TNAG-1343-FCO40-1773-Visit-by-Margaret-Thatcher--UK-Prime-Minister--to-Beijing-fo-1984 — Page 214

of those who do international trade through Hong Kơng, after all

the United States does a good deal of trade through Hong Kong and so does Japan, so does Australia. And also their investors put some money in, so our economic interest is in a way the same as many other people who invest in Hong Kong - we have far more than that, we do have a moral responsibility and being British, we take it very, very seriously, oh indeed yes!

With regard to the

GRAHAM BARNSHAW, Daily Telegraph: future of Hong Kong, do you think there is anything to be gained in regard to the way in which China and Portugal have dealt with a similar problem as Hong Kong over Macau?

P.M.

different:

No, I think that things are very, very Macau certainly has its own currency but it's not an internationally-traded currency as is the Hong Kong dollar and it's not an international financial and commercial centre. Macau

is not an international financial and trading centre as Hong Kong

is. I think certain similarities are drawn but they are very,

very limited indeed.

WONG YING-WAH, ATV:

Prime Minister, how much are you

aware of the desire of Hong Kong people concerning the future of Hong Kong3 How much do you take into consideration their immediate position.

P.M.

How much awaze

first part, how much I am aware of - ?

·

I didn't quite hear the

WONG YING-WAH :

The desire of the Hong Kong people ?

-

P.M.

The desires of Hong Kong people?, I try

to be very much aware; I read your newspapers, I have contacted many people, the Governor keeps me informed and so do many people from Hong Kong, I am making a point of seeing them. I think many people in Hong Kong would wish there werent a Lease that ended in 1997 but there is, and therefore we have to enter into talka now while there's still time. I think I know them, I read all of the

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