TNAG-1892-FCO40-2685-Visits-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe-and-by-Douglas-Hurd--Secretaries-1989 — Page 95

CONFIDENTIAL

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MDHOAN 5588

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELNO 1587

OF 26200OZ JULY 89

OPY

TOP COPY Q DIST?

FOLLOWING FOR GOVERNOR FROM PRIVATE SECRETARY

1. THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS ASKED ME TO PASS TO YOU THE

FOLLOWING MESSAGE:

BEGINS

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR MESSAGE OF GOOD WISHES AND FOR THE WELCOME WHICH YOU PASSED ON TO ME FROM THE MEMBERS OF THE

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. IT IS SOME YEARS SINCE I VISITED HONG KONG BUT I DO HAVE PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE ENORMOUS TALENT OF THE HONG KONG PEOPLE. IT IS THOSE QUALITIES OF SKILL, COURAGE AND ENTERPRISE THAT HAVE ENABLED HONG KONG TO WEATHER DIFFICULT AND

TESTING TIMES. I CAN ASSURE YOU AND THE MEMBERS OF EXCO THAT I

SHALL COMMIT MYSELF WHOLEHEARTEDLY TO WORKING WITH YOU FOR A

STABLE AND PROSPEROUS FUTURE FOR HONG KONG.

I HOPE THAT THE MEMBERS OF EXCO WILL UNDERSTAND IF I CANNOT SAY

AT THIS STAGE PRECISELY WHEN I SHALL BE ABLE TO VISIT YOU BUT I

DO FIRMLY INTEND TO FIND AN EARLY OPPORTUNITY TO COME TO HONG

KONG TO MEET AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.

WITH BEST WISHES,

JOHN MAJOR

ENDS

MAJOR

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

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HKD

PS

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