TNAG-1301-FCO40-1657-Visits-by-Richard-Luce--Minister-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Co-1984 — Page 8

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FM HONG KONG 0202202 MAR 84

TO ROUTINE FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 559 OF 2 MARCH 1984

INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON, PEKING, HONG KONG GOVERNMENT REPS. WASHINGTON, NEW YORK, BRUSSELS AND GENEVA

FOR HONG KONG GOVERNMENT REPS.

HKGT/50/84: FUTURE OF HONG KONG: VISIT OF MR. RICHARD LUCE MP

1. MR. RICHARD LUCE MP, MINISTER OF STATE AT THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE, VISITED HONG KONG FROM 25 TO 28 FEBRUARY. WHILE IN HONG KONG HE REVIEWED THE COURSE AND PROGRESS OF THE NEGOTIATIONS IN MEETINGS WITH THE GOVERNOR AND SENIOR OFFICIALS AND THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. THESE MEETINGS WERE ALSO ATTENDED BY SIR RICHARD EVANS, THE AMBASSADOR IN PEKING.

2. MR. LUCE ALSO CONTINUED WITH THE PROCESS BEGUN DURING HIS VISIT IN SEPTEMBER 1983 OF SEEKING THE VIEWS OF HONG KONG PEOPLE. IN THE COURSE OF HIS PROGRAMME HE MET MEMBERS OF UMELCO, THE URBAN COUNCIL, DISTRICT BOARDS, AND THE HEUNG YEE KUK, COMMUNITY LEADERS, REPRESENTATIVES OF PRESSURE GROUPS, ACADEMICS, EDUCAT- IONALISTS, BUSINESSMEN AND INDUSTRALISTS.

LINE TO TAKE

3. MR. LUCE'S VISIT DEMONSTRATES THE CONTINUED IMPORTANCE ATTACHED BY HMG TO REMAINING IN CLOSE TOUCH WITH THE VIEWS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.

4. YOU SHOULD ALSO DRAW ON THE POINTS MADE BY MR. LUCE IN HIS PRESS CONFERENCE ON 28 FEBRUARY. A TRANSCRIPT HAS ALREADY BEEN SENT TO YOU.

YOUDE

COPIES TO:

H.K.G.O. LONDON

SIR P CRADOCK

LIMITED

HKD

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PS/MR LUCE

MR DONALD

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