O PEKING
GRS 320
CYPHER CAT A
EM FCO 0411197
162
CONFIDENTIAL
TO IMMEDIATE PEKING TELNO 655 OF A NOV.
FOLLOWING TELEGRAM NOW REPEATED TO YOU AT REQUEST OF DEPT WAS SENT
TO HONG KONG TELNO 946 OF 1 NOV.
BEGINS
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TELNO 946 OF 1 NOV
FROM HKOLD
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION.
166
1. SIR ANTHONY ROYLE HAS PUT DOWN A QUESTION FOR ORAL ANSWER ON
6 NOVEMBER, TO ASK THE SECRETARY OF STATE IF HE WILL GIVE AN
ASSURANCE THAT THERE IS NO INTENTION TO CHANGE OR REDUCE THE
BRITISH POLITICAL AND MILITARY COMMITMENT TO HONG KONG.
2. WE PROPOSE TO RECOMMEND THE ANSWER QUOTE WE HAVE NO INTENTION
OF ABANDONING OR MODIFYING OUR RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE ADMIN-
ISTRATION OF HONG KONG. WE SHALL ALSO MAINTAIN OUR COMMITMENT TO
DEFEND THE COLONY, THE PRESENT DEFENCE AGREEMENT EXPIRES IN
MARCH 1976. THE SUCCESSOR AGREEMENT WILL NEED TO BE DISCUSSED WITH
THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IN THE LIGHT OF THE DEFENCE REVIEWS.
UNQUOTE,
3. WE PROPOSE TO RECOMMEND ANSWERS TO SUPPLEMENTARIES ON THE
FOLLOWING LINES:
A. WHY NOT GIVE UP HONG KONG ?
WE ADMINISTER THE COLONY IN THE INTERESTS OF THE 4 MILLION
INHABITANTS WHO HAVE CHOSEN TO LIVE THERE. IT IS APPARENT
THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT DO NOT WISH TO DISTURB THE PRESENT
SITUATION.
B. THE END OF THE LEASE.
THE NEW TERRITORIES LEASE DOES NOT EXPIRE UNTIL 1997. IT IS
NOT POSSIBLE TO PREDICT WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES WILL BE SO FAR
IN THE FUTURE.
CM ELECTIONS TO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF HONG KONG ARE SPECIAL AND MAKE VERY DIFFICULT
ANY DEVELOPMENT TOWARDS AN ELECTED FORM OF GOVERNMENT, THE
SITUATION IS WELL UNDERSTOOD LOCALLY.
D. CHINESF REPRESENTATION.
THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECENT DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL.
(IF PRESSED ON WHAT ATTITUDE THE GOVERNMENT WOULD NOW TAKE 15
THE CHINESE PRESS THIS PROPOSAL). I WOULD NOT WANT TO COMMENT
ON A HYPOTHETICAL SITUATION.
E. THE DEFENCE REVIEW.
THE FORCE LEVELS OF THE CARRISON IN HONG KONG ARE BEING EXAMINED
TOGETHER WITH ALL OUR DEFENCE COMMITMENTS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE
DEFENCE REVIEW, AS MY RT HON FRIEND THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE
COUNCIL ANNOUNCED ON 31 OCTOBER THE GOVERNMENT WILL MAKE A
STATEMENT ABOUT THE PEVIEW IN THE THIRD WEEK OF NOVEMBER. THE
WHITE PAPER WILL NOT NOW BE PUBLISHED, OWING TO THE GENERAL
FLECTION, UNTIL EARLY NEXT YEAR.
4. GRATEFUL FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR DELETIONS
OR ADDITIONS BY 0503307.
ENDS
CALLAGHAN
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