TNAG-1338-FCO40-1770-Visit-by-Margaret-Thatcher--UK-Prime-Minister--to-Beijing-fo-1984 — Page 50

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(E) THE POINTS MADE IN THE FIFTH AND SIXTH SENTENCES ARE BEST RESERVED FOR HER SPEECH IN HONG KONG SINCE THE CHINESE NAY WELL MISINTERPRET THE REFERENCE TO A CONTINUING BRITISH CONNECTION AFTER 1997 AND THE PASSAGE IS REALLY AIMED AT REASSURING HONG KONG.

(F) PARA 12: THE FOURTH SENTENCE OF THIS PARAGRAPH MAKES THE SPEECH END ON A NOTE OF APOLOGY FOR BRITAIN'S ASSOCIATION WITH HONG KONG. THIS IS UNNECESSARY, SINCE THERE IS OF COURSE VERY LITTLE TO RE APOLOGETIC ABOUT AND IT IS NOT REALLY TRUE THAT HONG KONG HAS IN RECENT TIMES BEEN A SOURCE OF DIVISION. THE FOURTH AND ALSO THE FIFTH SENTENCE MIGHT BE OMITTED.

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SIR P CRADOCK

MR FIFOOT LEGAL ADVISERS

ME BURROWS

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LEGAL ADVISERS