TNAG-1249-FCO40-1563-Press-reports-on-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 81

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3. MOST CHINESE LANGUAGE NEWSPAPERS, INCLUDING THE COMMUNIST ONES, CARRIED AN AFP REPORT FROM PEKING QUOTHING QUOTE A DIPLOMAT QUOTHING KNOWLEDGEABLE CHINESE SOURCES UNQUOTE. ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, CHINA BELNEVED THAT MIT COULD NOW REACH AN AGREEMENT WITH BRITAIN ON HONG KONG'S FUTURE QUOTE WITHOUT MAJOR DIFFICULTIES UNQUOTE.

THE CHINESE WOULD STILL ISSUE A STATEMENT ON HONG KONG'S FUTURE

NEXT YEAR WHATEVER THE OUTCOME OF THE NEGOTIATIONS AT THAT POINT.

4. ALL PAPERS HAVE CONTINUED TO REPORT DISCUSSIONS AMONG THE STUDENTS UNION ABOUT THE MANNER HWN WHICH THE OPEN LETTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER WAS DRAFTED AND SENT. HIN MITS EDITORIAL, THE FINANCIAL DAMLY (INDEPENDENT) SAND THAT THIS WAS NOT JUST A CAMPUS ROW. T DEMONSTRATED THAT PUBLIC OPINION COULD NOT BE REPRESENTED BY A SMALL GROUP BUT THAT PROPER CONSULTATION

BACKED BY PROPER LEGAL PROCEDURES WAS REQUIRED.

YOUDE

جب

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

COPIES TO:

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MR ROBERTS

MR BURROWS

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RESEARCH DEPT(MR WALKER)

LEGAL ADVISER(SIR IAN SINCLAIR)

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PS/LADY YOUNG

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SIR J BULLARD

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