TNAG-1299-FCO40-1655-Visit-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-a-1984 — Page 84

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THE ABSENCE OF ANY DETAIL ABOUT EFFECTIVE GUARANTEES OF HONG

KONG'S FUTURE AUTONOMY. A COMMENTATOR IN THE SAME PAPER TOOK A DIFFERENT LINE, SUGGESTING THAT BRITAIN'S POLICY TOWARDS HONG KONG WAS ON THE RIGHT COURSE, THAT IT WAS A REALISTIC POLICY, AND THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE WOULD HONOUR HIS COMMITMENTS. THE HONG

KONG KONG DAILY NEWS (INDEPENDENT) SAID THAT THE STATEMENT

HAD DONE MORE HARM THAN GOOD BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY THE BETTER OFF, WERE WORRIED THAT UNDER CHINESE SOVEREIGNTY HONG KONG WOULD NOT REMAIN UNCHANGED FOR VERY LONG. THE SING TAO EVENING

NEWS SAID THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE WAS TO KNOW WHAT THE

BINDING EFFECT OF ANY AGREEMENT WOULD BE AND HOW FAR IT WOULD PROVIDE

FOR REAL ATUONOMY IN HONG KONG. THE ORIENTAL DAILY (INDEPENDENT) SAID THAT, SINCE PROPERTY DEVELOPERS, HAD INDICATED THAT SALES OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY WOULD PICK UP LATER THIS YEAR, THIS WAS AN

INDICATION THAT MOST HONG KONG PEOPLE WOULD STAY IN HONG KONG.

THE PRO-KMT PRESS CALLED FOR LOCAL PEOPLE TO ORGANISE THEMSELVES

SO AS TO ENSURE THAT ANY UNACCEPTABLE AGREEMENT COULD BE REJECTED.

YOUDE

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

ED/PLANNING STAFF

ED/PUSD

D/ED/PUSD

PES.B. (MR WALKER)

LEGAL ADVISER (MR FREELAND).

PS

PS/LADY YOUNG

PS/E LUCE

COPTES TO:

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF ISE COUNCILL

PS/HOME SECRETARY

PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXOSEQUER

PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL

PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE & INDUSTRY

COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)

MR ROBERTIS

I ́EWS D

LEGAL ADVS

14R BURROWS

MR COLES NO

10 DOWNING ST

PS/CUS

SER J BULLARD

SIR W BARDING

YA WILSON

132 FRIGHT

SIE C MICKELT,

MR MARTIN ASSESSMENT STAFF CABINET OFFICE

MR GOODALL CABINET OFFICE

MR. BRENNAN CABINET OFFIC

PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE D

PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL

SIR ? CRADOCK EN KĀS

3. BIR ? CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING STREKT

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