TNAG-1297-FCO40-1652-Visit-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-a-1984 — Page 69

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

SECRET

8029 1

PERSONAL TOUCH. MINISTERIAL VISITS PLAY IMPORTANT PART IN THIS

PROCESS.

LEGCO DEBATE

7. IT IS NATURAL AND UNDERSTANDABLE THAT THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS SHOULD HAVE WISHED TO HAVE SUCH A DEBATE AT THISTIME. THE DEBATE

WAS A PROCEDURAL ONE. WHAT THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS WERE SEEKING, THROUGH THE MOTION, WAS SIMPLY AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS ANY PROPOSALS FOR THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG IN THE COUNCIL BEFORE ANY FINAL AGREEMENT IS REACHED. THAT IS A REASONABLE WISH. ALTHOUGH

IT IS TOO EARLY TO SAY PRECISELY HOW HONG KONG OPINION WILL BE CONSULTED ON ANY ARRANGEMENTS PROPOSED FOR THE FUTURE, MANY BODIES INCLUDING LEGCO CAN BE EXPECTED TO MAKE THEIR VIEWS KNOWN. DESIRE OF HONG KONG PEOPLE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE TALKS 8. WE FULLY UNDERSTAND THE DESIRE OF HONG KONG PEOPLE TO HAVE

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE TALKS. BUT THIS MUST BE BALANCED

AGAINST OUR CONVICTION THAT PROGRESS CAN BEST BE MADE IN CONFID- ENTIAL NEGOTIATIONS. TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN DO SO WITHOUT

PREJUDIC ING THE CONFIDENTIALITY UPON WHICH THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS ARE AGREED, WE SEEK TO EXPLAIN TO PARLIAMENT AND TO HONG KONG OPINION WHAT OUR GENERAL OBJECTIVES ARE. IN DUE COURSE, THERE WILL OF COURSE BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR HONG KONG PEOPLE TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS ON ANY SPECIFIC ARRANGEMENTS

PROPOSED FOR THE FUTURE.

HOWE

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

ED/PLANNING STAFF

/PUSD

D/ED/PUSD

́PES B. (MR WALKER)

LEGAL ADVISER (SIR IAN SINCLAIR

PS

PS/LADY YOUNG

PS/R LUCE

PS/FUS

SIR J BULLARD

SIR W HARDING

ទុ

YA WILSON

KR FRIGHT

STR C TICKIZILL

SECRET

COPIES TO:

BUCKINGHAM PALACE PS/LORD PRESIDENT

PS/HOME SECRETARY

ASIS COUNCIEL

PS/CHANCELLOR OF 13 EXOSEQUER

PS/LOED PRIVY SEAL

PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE & INDUSTRY

COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)

MR. ROBERTS I ENS D ́

MR BURROWS

LEGAL ADVS

MR COLES NO 10 DOWNING ST

ME MARTIN ASSESSMENT STAFF CABINET OFFICE

MR GOODATI

CABINET OFFICE

MR 3RINNAN CABINET OFFICE PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE D PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL

SIR ? CRADOCK BI K195

SIR P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING STREET

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