TNAG-1249-FCO40-1563-Press-reports-on-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 65

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4. BOTH THE INDEPENDENT AND COMMUNIST PRESS GAVE REASONABLY PROMINENT COVERAGE TO REMARKS MADE BY GASTON THORN, PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION DURING A BRIEF STOPOVER IN HONG KONG YESTERDAY AFTER HIS WISHT TO CHINA, DURING WHICH HE MET DENG FAO PING. EXPRESSING HIS OPTIMISM OVER THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG, HE SAND NO-ONE LEAST OF ALL THE PEKING GOVERNMENT - HAD AN INTEREST IN PUTTING AT RISK THE PROSPERITY OF THE TERRITORY. HE SAND THAT HONG KONG'S TRADING PARTNERS, INCLUDING THE EC, ATTACHED IMPORTANCE TO THE PRESERVATION OF THE TERRITORY'S INTERNATIONAL TRADING LINKS AND COMMENTED THAT MANY PEOPLE IN EUROPE SAW THE TALKS AS A TEST OF HOW DIFFICULT QUESTIONS BETWEEN A MEMBER STATE OF THE EC AND CHINA COULD BE SETTLED IN A SATKS- FACTORY WAY. OF THE COMMUNIST NEWSPAPERS, ONLY THE CENTRE DAILY NEWS GAVE MORE THAN STRAIGHT FORWARD FACTUAL COVERAGE. THIS WAS ITO THE EFFECT THAT THORN'S OPTIMISM WAS WELL-PLACED.

YOUDE

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

LIMITED

ED/KO

/FED

COPIES TO: (VIA DISTR. ROOM)

SIR PHILIP CORE BUCKINGHAM PALACE PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL PS/HOME SECRETARY

PS/CHANCELLOR OF TE EXCHEQUER

PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL

PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND

ED/PLANNING STAFF

ED/PUSD

D/HD/PUSD(MR FLOWER)

RESEARCH DEPT(MR WALKER)

LEGAL ADVISER(SIR IAN SINCLAIR)

PS

PS/LADY YOUNG

PSAR LUCE

PS/PUS

SIR J BULLARD

MR. GIFFARD

MR DONALD

MR #RIGHT

2

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INDUSTRY

COPIES TO:

(VIA ADR)

NEWS DEPT

MR ROBERTS

ME BURROWS LEGAL ADVISERS MR COLES NO 10 DOWNING ST SIR A PARSONS

IP

KR MARTIN ASSESSMENT STAFF CABINET OFFICE

WR GOODALL CABINET OFFICE HRBRENNAN

PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL