From the Private Secretary
DIF
RT MON
R/
10 DOWNING STREET
HKKC 040146.
RECEIVED IN REGISTEY
12 DEC 1984
DESK OFFICER INDEX
PA
REGISTRY Action Taken
even. I beli
pa + cross-reference, with papers already
[pleast also "put & copy
Yu12/12
10 December 1984
Gr
Acceptability file] 55513/12
294
HKK 040/16
523
1
The Prime Minister has asked me to thank you for your letter of 15 November enclosing a copy of the Reform Club's
views on the draft agreement on Hong Kong's future.
The Prime Minister has noted that your members have studied the agreement and the White Paper very closely and was impressed by the thoroughness of your approach.
I am sure that you will not expect me to reply point by point to all the comments that are made. I understand however that your document was formally submitted to the Assessment Office in Hong Kong while the test of acceptability was under way. The Assessment Office took your submission into account in preparing its report on the acceptability of the agreement to the people of Hong Kong. Your paper was also made available to Members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, along with other submissions from organisations in Hong Kong before the Parliamentary debates on the agreement. All these submissions have been most valuable in setting out for the British Government and Parliament the views of Hong Kong people on the draft agreement. They will help provide an agenda for our future discussions with the Chinese Government over the implementation of the agreement.
I am glad to note that although you have some reservations on points of detail, you consider the agreement overall to be a very good thing for the people of Hong Kong. The Government are confident that the agreement provides the necessary assurances about Hong Kong's future. It was clear from the outcome of the debate on 5 December that this view was fully shared by members of the House of Commons.
Mr. J.M.K. Wong.
Charles Powell
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