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MKK040/31 7730-1
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OO HONG KONG
GRS 735
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FM FCO 211830Z MAR 84
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 519 OF 21 MARCH
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
CM27/3
3IPT: FUTURE OF HONG KONG: FOREIGN AFFAIRS DEBATE: SECRETARY OF
́STATE' SPEECH.
1. HONG KONG IS ONE OF THE MOST STRIKING EXAMPLES OF SUCCESSFUL
ENTERPRISE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. ITS SUCCESS CAN BE ATTRIBUTED
TO A UNIQUE SYNTHESIS OF BRITISH AND CHINESE TALENT. WE ARE NOW
ENGAGED WITH CHINA IN NEGOTIATIONS OVER THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG
WITH THE AIM OF ENABLING THIS ENTERPRISE TO CONTINUE AND TO
FLOURISH.
2. THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ARE UNDERSTANDABLY CONCERNED TO BE
ABLE TO PRESERVE THE VITAL ELEMENTS IN THEIR SOCIETY. MY
COLLEAGUES AND I HAVE HAD MANY CONTACTS WITH HONG KONG PEOPLE AND
WITH INDIVIDUALS REPRESENTING A WIDE RANGE OF OPINIONS THERE.
WE HAVE, IN PARTICULAR, HAD A NUMBER OF VERY USEFUL MEETINGS WITH
MEMBERS OF EXCO AND I HOPE THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO GIVE US THE
BENEFIT OF THEIR ADVICE AND LONG EXPERIENCE. ALL THESE CONTACTS
HAVE SHOWN CLEARLY THAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WISH TO SEE
CONTINUITY IN THE SYSTEMS AND THE FREEDOMS WHICH CHARACTERISE
HONG KONG LIFE TODAY.
3. THEY WISH TO BE CERTAIN THAT IN FUTURE THE ESSENTIAL
FOUNDATIONS OF THEIR WAY OF LIFE WILL BE MAINTAINED: THAT THE
BASIS OF THE CURRENT LEGAL AND SOCIAL SYSTEMS WILL CONTINUE:
THAT HONG KONG'S ECONOMY WILL REMAIN OPEN TO WORLD MARKETS: THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO SPEAK AND MEET AND TRAVEL AS THEY WISH. HMG
FULLY UNDERSTAND THIS CONCERN.
4. AT PRESENT, CONTINUITY IS ASSURED BY BRITISH ADMINISTRATION. FOR THE FUTURE IT IS POSSIBLE TO VISUALISE OTHER WAYS IN WHICH
CONTINUITY CAN BE ASSURED. THE FACT IS THAT THE LEASE OF 92 PER
CENT OF THE TERRITORY EXPIRES IN 1997. WE MUST AND DO BEAR IN MIND
THE REALITIES OF THE SITUATION AND THE UNIQUE HISTORICAL AND
see
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