TNAG-1313-FCO40-1688-Future-of-Hong-Kong-views-and-involvement-of-Australia--Cana-1984 — Page 166

GRS 140

UNCLASSIFIED

FM WELLINGTON 270312Z SEP 84

TO ROUTINE FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 316 OF 27 SEPTEMBER

AND TO ROUTINE CANBERRA, OTTAWA, WASHINGTON

MY TELNO

1.

(133

: HONG KONG

TOP COPY

MKKC040/6

+

-7 SEP 1984

PA

MEGIS

Action Take

Гок гро 22110

FOLLOWING, JUST RECEIVED BY NZMFA, IS TEXT OF PRESS STATEMENT ISSUED BY MR LANGE IN NEW YORK ON 25 SEPTEMBER:

**THE INITIALLING OF THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CHINA AND THE UNITED KINGDOM ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG IS A POSITIVE AND WELCOME STEP. NEW ZEALAND HAS NOT OF COURSE BEEN A PARTY TO THE NEGOTIATIONS BUT HAS MADE KNOWN TO BOTH PARTIES OUR VIEW THAT THE SETTLEMENT SHOULD BE ONE THAT BENEFITS THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG AND CONTRIBUTES TO

THE STABILITY OF THE ASIAN-PACIFIC REGION. IT WILL ALSO BE ENCOURAGING FOR NEW ZEALAND COMPANIES INVOLVED IN HONG KONG'S FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES. I CONGRATULATE BOTH THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA AND THE UNITED KINGDOM ON THE SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION OF WHAT HAS BEEN A VERY COMPLEX ROUND OF DISCUSSIONS.''

O'LEARY MINIMAL

COPIES TO:-

SIR A CRADOCK

HKD

FGD NAD

SAD

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