TNAG-1253-FCO40-1586-Third-countries-and-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 115

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5. MR HAYDEN GAVE A PRESS CONFERENCE AFTER THE MEETING (FULL TRANSCRIPT BY BAG). THE MAIN POINTS ARE IN MIFT. THE PRESS COVERAGE HAS PLAYED UP HIS REFERENCES TO A TRANSITION, CREATING THE UNFORTUN- ATE IMPRESSION THAT HE REGARDS A TRANSITION TO CHINESE CONTROL AS A FOREGONE CONCLUSION. MR HAYDEN GAVE NO WARNING THAT HE INTENDED TO SPEAK IN THIS SENSE TO THE PRESS. INDEED HE PROFESSED TO UNDERSTAND THE SENSITIVITY OF THE TOPIC AND SAID QUITE FIRMLY THAT HE WOULD NOT DISCUSS IT IN ANY DETAIL IN PUBLIC.

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