TNAG-1304-FCO40-1660-Visit-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-a-1984 — Page 28

FINAL STATEMENT BY SIR GEOFFREY HOWE:

COULD I MAKE JUST ONE COMMENT AT THE END OF THIS PRESS CONFERENCE, WHICH IS TO EXPRESS MY THANKS TO THE JOURNALISTS AND NEWSPAPERS AND TELEVISION AND RADIO STATIONS AND MEDIA OF HONG KONG, BECAUSE DURING MY TWO VISITS

WE'VE HAD TO LIVE WITH EACH OTHER, SOMETIMES TALKING TO EACH OTHER FREELY, SOMETIMES TALKING TO EACH OTHER NOT AT ALL. YOU'VE BEEN VERY PATIENT WITH ME AND I'VE MUCH APPRECIATED THE WAY IN WHICH WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO CONDUCT OUR RELATIONSHIPS, IF THAT'S THE RIGHT WAY OF PUTTING IT. MAY I ALSO SAY A WORD OF RECOGNITION OF THE IMPORTANCE IN THE YEARS AHEAD, NOT JUST OF THE MEDIA WHICH YOU REPRESENT BUT OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE OF HONG KONG, AND ALSO TO PAY A TRIBUTE TO THE VALUE OF THE ADVICE WHICH I HAVE RECEIVED FROM MEMBERS OF EXCO AND OF LEGCO, WHO ALL PLAY A VERY CRUCIAL PART IN SHAPING AND REPRESENTING THE OPINION OF HONG KONG AND WHO WILL ALL HAVE A CONTINUING IMPORTANT PART TO PLAY IN THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG IN THE YEARS AHEAD. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH INDEED.

YOUDE

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

HD/PLANNING STAFF

HD/PUSD

DEP HD/PUSD

RESEARCH D (MR WALKER)

LEGAL ADVISERS (SIR J FREELAND) PS

PS/LADY YOUNG

PS/MR LUCE

PS/PUS

SIR W HARDING

SIR C TICKELL

MR GOODALL

MR DEREK THOMAS

COPIES TO:-

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL PS/HOME SECRETARY

PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL

PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE & INDUSTRY

COPIES TO:- (VIA ADR)

MR ROBERTS NEWS DEPT

MR BURROWS LEGAL ADVISERS MR FIFOOT LEGAL ADVISERS MR POWELL NO 10 DOWNING ST. MR INGHAM NO 10 DOWNING ST. MR MARTIN ASSESSMENTS STAFF MR CARTLEDGE CABINET OFFICE MR COLVIN CABINET OFFICE

PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL

SIR P CRADOCK ROOM K195

CABINET OFFIC

SIR P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING ST.

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