TNAG-1308-FCO40-1665-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 105

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CONFIDENTIAL

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DO HONG KONG

GRS 262

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO 061545Z MAR 84

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NUMBER 400 OF 6 MARCH

MIFT: FUTURE OF HONG KONG: MR WALTER SULKE

FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF REPLY:

RECEIVEL Ina rafalet par

x: 1:34

REGISTRY

Action Taken

wirs

1. BEGINS: THE PRIME MINISTER HAS ASKDD ME TO THANK YOU FOR

YOUR LETTER OF 13 FEBRUARY ENCLOSING A COPY OF YOUR SPEECH TO THE ROTARY CLUB HONG KONG SOUTH ABOUT THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG.

SHE ALWAYS WELCOMES THE VIEWS OF HONG KONG PEOPLE ABOUT THE

TERRITORY'S FUTURE, AND THE CONTENTS OF YOUR SPEECH HAVE BEEN

CAREFULLY NOTED. I SHOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON TWO MAJOR ISSUES.

YOU PROPOSED THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOW WITHDRAW

FROM NEGOTIATIONS AND AWAIT A UNILATERAL CHINESE STATEMENT BEFORE

CONDUCTING A REFERENDUM. THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT FAVOUR AN

ALTERNATIVE APPROACH, NAMELY THE PURSUIT OF DISCUSSION WITH THE

CHINESE GOVERNMENT ON THE ATTAINMENT OF THE COMMON OBJECTIVE

WHICH IS THE CONTINUING STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG.

IN OUR VIEW IT IS THIS ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN THE NEGOTIATION

PROCESS WHICH WILL BEST ASSIST THE INTERESTS OF HONG KONG.

YOU SUGGESTED IN YOUR LETTER THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT SHOULD

BE ENCOURAGED TO HOLD A REFERENDUM. WE HAVE REPEATEDLY MADE IT

CLEAR THAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO THE SEARCH FOR A SETTLEMENT

ACCEPTABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG AS WELL AS TO THE BRITISH

AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS. I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THE VIEWS OF THE

HONG KONG PEOPLE EXPRESSED IN SUCH FORA AS THE URBAN COUNCIL

WILL CONTINUE TO BE FULLY TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT THROUGHOUT THE

TALKS. THIS PROCESS OF CONSULTATION IS A CONTINUOUS ONE, AND WE

ATTACH THE HIGHEST IMPORTANCE TO IT. ENDS.

HOWE

see

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MR WILSON

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CONFIDENTIAL

SIR P CRADOCK

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