SEGRET
CONFIDENTIAL
Reference.......
(16
Mr Martin, FED
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
1. Thank you for letting me see your draft letter to Mr Millington in Washington about his letter reference 020/16 of 11 May.
2. I was interested to see the Chinese statement from the People's Daily Editorial of 8 March 1963, which I was not aware of. However I do not think that we can call it "the authoritative" Chinese statement on the future of Hong Kong. Inmy view, the authoritative statement was that made by the Chinese Permanent Representative to the United Nations in his letter to the Chairman of the Committee of 24 dated 8 March 1972. This is surely the reference we normally use to illustrate the Chinese position on the future of Hong Kong.
3. I would also take issue with your paragraph 3. In my view, even as it stands, it is much too definite about the possible Chinese attitude to 1997. I would much prefer that we stuck to the line outlined in paragraph 12 of the Planning Paper on Hong Kong and reflected in Mr Bentley's manuscript minute to Mr Cortazzi on Mr Donald's letter of 19 May.
Samvini
R B Janvrin HKIOD K 245
233 4777
8 June 1976
Cc:
Mr Hoare
Far Eastern Section Research Department G 61/4
/gast. 1876 see below.
Mr Hoare,
Any
comment
sub
9/6
CODE 18-77
CONFIDENTIAL SECRET
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