TNAG-1325-FCO40-1737-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-debates-1984 — Page 262

GRS 1300

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DESKBY FCO 14113OZ

DESKBY PEKING 15003OZ

SECRET

TOP COPY HKK 040/31

RECEIVED

15 MAY 1984

(11)

FM HONG KONG 14103OZ MAY 84

TO IMMEDIATE F C O

TELEGRAM NUMBER 1315 OF 14 MAY

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

63) 65

YOUR TELSNOS 867 TO 869: FUTURE OF HONG KONG.

PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE.

1. THE FOLLOWING IS SUBJECT TO ANY VIEWS WHICH THE GOVERNOR

MAY HAVE GIVEN SEPARATELY TO THE DEPARTMENT.

2. WE HAVE TWO GENERAL COMMENTS. THE FIRST IS THAT IT WOULD BE

HELPFUL IN TERMS OF THE FUTURE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HMG AND

see 10,12

THE UNOFFICIALS IF THE SECRETARY OF STATE COULD MAKE SOME REFERENCE

TO THE UMELCO VISIT IN HIS SPEECH. THIS MIGHT TAKE THE FORM OF AN

ADDITIONAL PASSAGE AFTER THE SECOND SENTENCE OF PARA 13, ON THE

FOLLOWING LINES:

''A DELEGATION OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND

LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS OF HONG KONG IS NOW IN LONDON TO EXPRESS THEIR

UNDERSTANDING OF THE WISHES AND CONCERNS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG

KONG. I KNOW THAT A NUMBER OF MEMBERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE HOUSE

HAVE TAKEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET THEM AND I HAVE MYSELF HAD

DISCUSSIONS WITH THE DELEGATION'S LEADER, SIR S Y CHUNG''.

THE PASSAGE DEALING WITH THE UMELCO VISIT IN MR LUCE'S

SPEECH MIGH ALSO BE MADE LESS DEFENSIVE, PARTICULARLY IN VIEW

OF THE PUBLICATION OF THE NCNA COMMENTARY REPORTED IN PEKING

TELNO 910. WE SUGGEST THAT THE FOLLOWING BE SUBSTITUTED FOR

THE LAST TWO SENTENCES OF PARA 5 AND PARA 6:

''THE UMELCO DELEGATION CAME TO LONDON AT THEIR OWN INITIATIVE, AND THE TERMS OF THE STATEMENT WHICH THEY HAVE ISSUED ARE THEIRS ALONE. BUT I SHOULD LIKE THE HOUSE TO BE CLEAR THAT WE FULLY UNDERSTAND THEIR WISH TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEW OF HONG KONG OPINION, A WISH WICH ARISES OUT OF THEIR SENSE OF DUTY TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. IT IS NATURAL THAT THE HONG KONG PEOPLE SHOULD BE ANXIOUS AT A TIME WHEN SO MANY OF THE DETAILS OF THE NEGOTIATIONS MUST STILL BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL. BUT IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE OUR AIM, THROUGH THE NEGOTIATIONS, TO SECURE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WHICH WILL ALLAY THEIR CONCERNS AND GIVE THEM CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE''.

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3.