TNAG-1306-FCO40-1663-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 81

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DESKBY 120100Z

FM FCO 111455Z JAN 84

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NUMBER 48 OF 11 JANUARY

11921

HKK040||

RECENLO WALGISTRY

R: JAN 1984

DESA CA-PIS Fig

LETTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER FROM URBCO CHAIRMAN

71.

7-сны

MR HILTON CHEONG-LEEN WROTE TO THE PRIME MINISTER ON

29 DECEMBER (COPIED TO THE GOVERNOR) ENCLOSING A COPY OF HIS

SPEECH AT URBCO'S ANNUAL CONVENTIONAL DEBATE ON

10 JANUARY (PARAGRAPH 9 OF YOUR TELNO 72 REPERS). HIKKO4G/3 (11)

2. HE SUGGESTS IN HIS LETTER THAT PARAGRAPHS 9 TO 12 OF HIS

SPEECH TEXT ''BE THE BOTTOMLINE IN THE NEGOTIATIONS LEADING UP TO

ANY AGREEMENT WHICH MIGHT BE ARRIVED AT BETWEEN BRITAIN AND

CHINA'.

3. THE PRIME MINISTER'S PRIVATE SECRETARY WILL REPLY. WE ARE SUGGESTING THAT HE OFFERS NO SPECIFIC COMMENTS, EG ON THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMMONWEALTH, THE RETENTION FOR 30 YEARS OF THE CEDED AREAS OR A SEPARATE FLAG FOR HONG KONG, BUT MAKES IT

CLEAR THAT IN THE NEGOTIATIONS HMG ATTACHES GREAT IMPORTANCE TO

THE VIEWS AND INTERESTS OF THE HONG KONG PEOPLE, TO THE

MAINTENANCE OF STABILITY AND PROSPERITY AND TO SEEKING A

SOLUTION WHICH WILL BE ACCEPTABLE TO AND COMMAND THE CONFIDENCE

OF ALL CONCERNED. WE WILL LET YOU HAVE A COPY OF THE REPLY.

4. GRATEFUL FOR ANY COMMENTS DESKBY 121200Z.

2

aken

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HOWE

DIST:

LIMITED

HKD

FED

MR DONALD

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