TNAG-1304-FCO40-1660-Visit-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-a-1984 — Page 32

UNDER THIS

I SAID IN APRIL THAT WE WERE WORKING TO A PROGRAMME WHICH TAKES ACCOUNT OF CHINA'S WISHES AND OF OUR OWN REQUIREMENTS. PROGRAMME, WE AIM TO COMPLETE OUR WORK AND INITIAL AN AGREEMENT BEFORE THE END OF SEPTEMBER.

THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WILL WANT TO SEE THE FULL TEXT OF THE AGREEMENT AND ANNEXES AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE, SO THAT THEY HAVE TIME TO CONSIDER IT. THERE WILL BE A PERIOD FOR EXPLANATION, DISCUSSION AND DEBATE. ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE ANALYSIS AND ASSESSMENT OF HONG KONG OPINION WERE ANNOUNCED A FORTNIGHT AGO. THIS IS A VITAL PART

OF THE PROGRAMME.

WHEN THIS ASSESSMENT HAS BEEN MADE, IT WILL THEN BE FOR PARLIAMENT TO DEBATE THE AGREEMENT, TAKING FULL ACCOUNT OF THE VIEWS EXPRESSED IN HONG KONG. IF PARLIAMENT AGREES, THE AGREEMENT WILL BE SIGNED

BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.

FROM WHAT I HAVE SAID YOU WILL SEE THAT SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED. I BELIEVE IT HOLDS OUT THE PROSPECT OF AN HISTORIC AGREEMENT: AN AGREEMENT WHICH WILL PROVIDE FOR A HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY SEMI COLON UNDER WHICH ADMINISTRATION WILL BE IN THE HANDS OF THE HONG KONG PEOPLE THEMSELVES SEMI COLON AND UNDER WHICH HONG KONG'S ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL SYSTEMS, ITS DISTINCTIVE WAY OF LIFE AND ITS POSITION AS A FINANCIAL TRADING AND INDUSTRIAL

CENTRE WILL BE SECURED.

THOUGH THERE IS STILL A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE, I AM CONFIDENT THAT WE ARE ON COURSE FOR A CONCLUSION WE SHALL BE ABLE TO COMMEND BOTH TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG AND TO THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT.

ENDS

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 CABINET OFFI

MR CARTLEDGE

MR COLVIN

CABINET OFFICE

CABINET OFFICE

PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE

PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL

SIR P CRADOCK ROOM K195

SIR P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING ST.

4

SECRET