TNAG-1299-FCO40-1655-Visit-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-a-1984 — Page 89

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S. TWO DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS WERE QUOTED AS SAYING THAT THE STATEMENT HAD NOT REVEALED ENOUGH TO SATISFY HONG KONG PEOPLE. THE REMAINER WORRIED BECAUSE THE TWO SIDES WERE SOME WAY FROM AN AGREEMENT. LAU CHIN SHEK (LABOUR MOVEMENT ACTIVISTAL SAID THAT THE STATEMENT WAS DISAPPOINTING BECAUSE IT HAD FAILED TO INDICATE CLEARLY HOW HONG KONG PEOPLE WERE TO BE PROPERLY CONSULTED. A NUMBER OF COMMENTATORS SAID THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S STATEMENT CONTAINED NOTHING NEW. BUT THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT THESE THINGS HAD BEEN SAID BY THE BRITISH.

YOUDE

FUTURE OF HONG KONG TATE-OMMEND

C/PLANNING STAFF

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́PES.B. (MR WALKER)

LEGAL ADVISER (MR FREELAND).

FS

PS/LADY YOUNG

PS/E LUCE

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SER J BULLARD

́SIR Y HARDING

YR WILSON

HR WRIGHT

SIR C TICKERLL

4.

COPIES TO:

BUCKINGIAH PALACE

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SIR ? CRADOCK EN K195

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