CONFIDENTIAL
HKK 040/57
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
DD 070100Z HONG KONG
07 DEC 1984
4678 1
-
231
TOP COPY
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GRS 237
CONFIDENTIAL
DESKBY 070100Z
FM FCO 061815Z DEC 84
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
PLSK OFFICER
TRY
INDEX
PA
Action Taken
TELEGRAM NUMBER 2442 OF 6 DECEMBER
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
YOUR TELNO 3713: PRIME MINISTER'S SPEECH IN HONG KONG
1. WE ARE SUBMITTING A DRAFT INCORPORATING AMENDMENTS IN TUR AND
IN GENERAL MAKING ONLY STYLISTIC CHANGES. IN THE LIGHT OF
YESTERDAY'S HOUSE OF COMMONS DEBATE, HOWEVER, WE FELT IT WAS
NECESSARY TO FILL OUT SOMEWHAT THE REFERENCES IN THE SPEECH TO
CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT. IN OUR NEW DRAFT THE PARAGRAPH
CORRESPONDING TO PARA 7 OF OUR TELNO 1488 TO PEKING NOW READS AS
FOLLOWS:
'UNTIL 1997 BRITAIN REMAINS FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG. OUR COMMITMENT TO HONG KONG HAS
BEEN CLEAR FROM THE START. NOW THAT THE AGREEMENT IS SIGNED, I
PLEDGE HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT'S FULLEST EFFORTS IN THE YEARS TO 1997 TO ENSURE THAT HONG KONG CONTINUES TO HAVE A STABLE AND
RESPONSIVE GOVERNMENT, ADMINISTERING THE TERRITORY IN THE BEST
INTERESTS OF ITS PEOPLE. THERE WILL NEED, AS WE ALL REALISE, TO
BE SOME EVOLUTION OF THE STRUCTURES OF GOVERNMENT IN THIS PERIOD.
THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG MUST BE READY IN 1997 TO TAKE UP THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF RUNNING THEIR OWN AFFAIRS. AT THE SAME TIME
WE RECOGNISE THE NEED TO AVOID SUDDEN AND DRAMATIC CHANGES WHICH
MIGHT HAVE A DESTABILISING EFFECT. WE NEED TO BUILD, BUT TO BUILD
CAREFULLY AND SECURELY.' ENDS
2. GRATEFUL FOR CONFIRMATION DESKBY 07090OZ THAT PROPOSED
ADDITION GIVES YOU NO DIFFICULTY.
HOWE
HONG KONG AGREEMENT
LIMITED
HD/HKD
COPIES TO: MR ROBERTS
VIA ADR) NEWS DEPT
HD/FED
HD/PLANNING STAFF HD/PUSD
DEP HD/PUSD
RES D.(MR WALKER) HD/PROTOCOL D
PS
PS/MR LUCE
PS/PUS
SIR W HARDING
MR WILSON
SIR J FREELAND Mr Crowley Puso
MR FIFOOT
MR BURROWS
LEGAL ADVS. LEGAL ADVS
MR MARTIN ASST STAFF
CABINET OFFICE
MR CARTLEDGE CABINET OFFICE
MR COLVIN CABINET OFFICE SIR P CRADOCK NO.10 DOWNING ST. SIR P CRADOCK ROOM K 195 SIR Æ YOU DE Room R 195 A
CONFIDENTIAL
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