TNAG-1891-FCO40-2684-Visits-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe-and-by-Douglas-Hurd--Secretaries-1989 — Page 82

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

RESTRICTED

HKB 026/20

TOP COPY Q DIST?

RESTRICTED

FM PEKING

TO ROUTINE FCO

TELNO 1288

OF 04072OZ JULY 89

INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO HONG KONG.

1.

THE NCNA BULLETIN FOR 3 JULY CARRIES THE FOLLOWING DESPATCH DATED 1 JULY.

BEGINS:

LONDON, JULY 1 (XINHUA):

100

071644

MDLIAN 3765

BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY GEOFFREY HOWE LEFT HERE TODAY ON A THREE-DAY VISIT TO HONG KONG, WHERE HE IS EXPECTED TO DELIVER A MAJOR SPEECH TO SPELL OUT BRITAIN'S POLICY ON HONG KONG.

DURING HIS VISIT, HOWE REPORTEDLY WILL REAFFIRM BRITAIN'S COMMITMENT TO THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG, OVER WHICH CHINA WILL RESTORE ITS EXERCISE OF SOVEREIGNTY IN 1997 UNDER THE

SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION ON HONG KONG.

1984

BRITISH NEWSPAPERS SAID HOWE IS LIKELY TO FACE MASS DEMONSTRATIONS BECAUSE HIS GOVERNMENT REFUSES TO GIVE 3.25

MILLION HONG KONG RESIDENTS THE RIGHT TO LIVE IN BRITAIN.

BUT SOURCES AGREED THAT HOWE HAS NO INTENTION TO YIELD GROUND ON THE ISSUE AND IS NOT EXPECTED TO ANNOUNCE ANY MAJOR RELAXATION OF IMMIGRATION RULES.

IN A REPORT ON HONG KONG PUBLISHED YESTERDAY, THE HOUSE OF COMMONS SELECT COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS SUPPORTED THE GOVERNMENT'S STANCE ON REFUSING HONG KONG CITIZENS THE RIGHT TO

LIVE IN BRITAIN.

''DESPITE THE UNDERSTANDABLE CONCERNS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ABOUT THE RECENT EVENTS IN THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA, WE ARE IN NO DOUBT THAT THEIR BEST FUTURE LIES IN HONG KONG AND THEREFORE THAT THE BEST GUARANTEES FOR THAT FUTURE ARE THE CONTINUING ECONOMIC SUCCESS OF THE TERRITORY AND STRONG AND

1

PAGE

RESTRICTED

Comments

Approved members can add comments, bookmarks, and private notes.

No comments yet.

Private Research Note

Private notes are available after approval.