TNAG-1300-FCO40-1656-Visit-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-a-1984 — Page 16

DD 12010OZ HONG KONG

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1 5 MAY 1984

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DESKBY 120100Z

FM FCO 111545Z MAY 84

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NUMBER 863 OF 11 MAY

AND TO IMMEDIATE PEKING

PQ:

SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO HONG KONG AND CHINA

PEOETRY

1. MR ROBERT ADLEY HAS PUT DOWN THE FOLLOWING PQ FOR ORAL

ANSWER ON 23 MAY:

TO ASK THE SECRETARY OF STATE

FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS, IF HE WILL MAKE A STATEMENT ON HIS RECENT VISITS TO CHINA AND HONG KONG.

2. SUBJECT TO YOUR VIEWS WE PROPOSE TO PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING

REPLY:

''I VISITED CHINA FROM 15-18 APRIL AND HONG KONG FROM 18-20 APRIL. IN CHINA I HELD USEFUL DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE LEADERS ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG AND ON OTHER BILATERAL AND INTERNATIONAL ISSUES. I ALSO SIGNED A CONSULAR AGREEMENT. IN HONG KONG I HELD TALKS WITH THE GOVERNOR, AND UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS, AND MET A WIDE CROSS-SECTION OF THE HONG KONG COMMUNITY, INCLUDING ELECTED MEMBERS OF THE URBAN COUNCIL AND DISTRICT BOARDS, LOCAL BUSINESSMEN, OTHER COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES AND THE PRESS. I MADE A STATEMENT

OUTLINING HMG'S APPROACH TO THE TALKS WITH THE CHINESE ON THE

FUTURE OF THE TERRITORY.''

3. QUESTION MAY BE REACHED. WE WILL PROVIDE SUPPLEMENTARIES ON THE FUTURE, CONSULAR AGREEMENT AND OTHER SUBJECTS DISCUSSED IN PEKING. THESE MAY WELL NEED UPDATING IN LIGHT OF DEBATE NEXT

WEEK.

GRATEFUL FOR COMMENTS DESKBY 141100Z.

HOWE HMITED

HKD

COPIES TO:

HKGO- LONDON

FED

MR WILSON

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