TNAG-1304-FCO40-1660-Visit-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-a-1984 — Page 37

RESTRICTED

DESKBY 01043OZ HONG KONG

DESKEY 0107OOZ FCO

FROM PEKING 010355Z JUL 94

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

SEORET

TELEGRAM NUMBER 220 OF 1 AUG

HICK

RECEIVED TO SOME - 2 AUG1984

INFO IMMEDIATE FCO

NEX

138

See 13

0271 Zaba

TORC

:

FOR SECRETARY OF STATE'S PARTY

SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT: PRESS COVERAGE

1. THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S MEETING WITH DENG XIAOPING WAS

THE FIRST ITEM ON THE CHINESE TELEVESION NEWS LAST NIGHT

(31 JULY) AND HAS BEEN REPORTED PROMINENTLY ON THE FRONT PAGES

OF BOTH THE PEOPLE'S DAILY AND CHINA DAILY.

2.

THE PEOPLE'S DAILY ARTICLE BY XINHUA IS HEADLINED ''DENG

XIAOPING MEETS SIR GEOFFREY HOWE AND CONGRATULATES BRITAIN AND

CHINA ON ACHIEVING SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN THE HONG KONG TALKS."'

DENG IS QUOTED AS SAYING THAT A SATISFACTORY SETTLEMENT OF THE

HONG KONG QUESTION WOULD BE WELL-RECEIVED BY THE INTERNATIONAL

COMMUNITY AND WOULD SERVE AS A MODEL FOR OTHER COUNTRIES WORKING

TO RESOLVE OUTSTANDING HISTORICAL QUESTIONS. IN EXPRESSING

APPRECIATION FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S EFFORTS IN RESOLVINGNTHE

HONG KONG QUESTION, DENG SAID THAT THE LATEST TALKS HAD TAKEN

PLACE IN A SPIRIT OF MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING AND MUTUAL ACCOMMODATION.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS QUOTED AS SAYING THAT A SOLUTION

OF THE HONG KONG QUESTION WAS OF THE HIGHEST IMPORTANCE TO BOTH .

BRITAIN AND CHINA. IT WAS AN ISSUE THAT GREATLY CONCERNED THE

BRITISH PRIME MINISTER WHO HAD BEEN DELIGHTED WITH THE SIGNIFICANT

PROGRESS ACHIEVED. THE MAJOR PROBLEMS HAD NOW BEEN RESOLVED

BUT THERE REMAINED MUCH WORK TO BE DONE. CHINA'S CONCEPT OF

''ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS' WAS AN HISTORIC AND EXCITING CONCEPT

WHICH COULD GUARANTEE HONG KONG'S PROSPERITY AND STABILITY BOTH

BEFORE AND AFTER 1997.

3. THE CHINA DAILY MAKES THE SAME POINTS BUT ALSO REPORTS

THE REMARK OF DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER WU XUEQIAN THAT THERE

HAD BEEN A BREAKTHROUGH IN THE TALKS.

4.

FAR.

THERE HAVE BEEN NO CHINESE COMMENTARIES ON THE VISIT SO

THOMSON.

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 OFFIC

MR CARTLEDGE CABINET OFFICE

MR COLVIN

CABINET OFFICE

PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE

PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL

SIR P CRADOCK

ROOM K195

SIR P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING ST.

SECRET