TNAG-1456-FCO40-1980-Future-of-Hong-Kong-annual-report-to-Parliament-on-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 89

GRS 600

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 17093OZ FCO

TELNO 4168

OF 17074OZ DECEMBER 86

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

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15

RA

See 25

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HKK 011/20

VED IN REGISTRY

1 8 DEC 1986

OFFICER

SISTRY

PA

Action Taken

OUR TELNO 4117: ANNUAL REPORT TO PARLIAMENT

1. DRAFT PASSAGE ON THE DEATH OF SIR E YOUDE IS AS FOLLOWS:

BEGINS

THE NEWS OF THE SUDDEN DEATH IN PEKING OF THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, GCMG, GCVO, MBE, IN THE EARLY HOURS OF 5 DECEMBER 1986 WAS RECEIVED BY THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WITH PROFOUND SHOCK AND SADNESS. HIS CRUCIAL ROLE IN THE NEGOTIATIONS LEADING UP TO THE SIGNING OF THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG AND HIS SELFLESS DEDICATION TO THE PROMOTION OF THE INTERESTS OF HONG KONG AND THE WELFARE OF ITS PEOPLE WERE ACKNOWLEDGED IN THE MANY TRIBUTES WHICH POURED IN FROM THE HONG KONG COMMUNITY AND FROM OVERSEAS.

SIR EDWARD'S TENURE AS GOVERNOR BEGAN ON 20 MAY 1982 AND WAS, INEVITABLY, DOMINATED BY THE QUESTION OF HONG KONG'S FUTURE. NEVERTHELESS HIS YEARS IN OFFICE WERE ALSO MARKED BY STEADY PROGRESS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG'S PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND SOCIAL PROGRAMMES. THEY ALSO SAW INCREASED INVOLVEMENT OF THE HONG KONG PEOPLE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THEIR OWN AFFAIRS THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MORE REPRESENTATIVE SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT.

THE STATE FUNERAL OF THE LATE GOVERNOR TOOK PLACE IN HONG KONG ON 9 DECEMBER WITH FULL MILITARY HONOURS. THE GUARD OF HONOUR WAS MADE UP OF REPRESENTATIVES OF ALL THREE BRANCHES OF THE BRITISH ARMED SERVICES STATIONED IN HONG KONG, THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE AND LOCAL AUXILIARY FORCES. THE FUNERAL SERVICE WAS CONDUCTED BY BISHOP OF HONG KONG WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP OF HONG KONG AND MINISTERS FROM OTHER DENOMINATIONS, AND WAS ATTENDED BY PERSONAL FRIENDS OF THE GOVERNOR AND LADY YOUDE MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS, REPRESENTATIVES OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS AND SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. IT WAS BROADCAST LIVE ON RADIO AND TELEVISION AND RELAYED TO THE CITY HALL IN HONG KONG ISLAND AND THE COLISEUM IN KOWLOON, WHICH WERE OPENED TO THE PUBLIC.

CONFIDENTIAL

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