За
CKS 120
SECRET
FM F C O 281517Z MAR 79
TO IMMEDIATE PEKING
Huk. coll.
RACIVED C
SECRET
INDEX
الميه
420 51
3 APR 1979
PSAIL IRY
Take
1
52
No
J27.4
TELEGRAM NUMBER 213 OF 28 MARCH
FOLLOWING FOR SIR M MACLEHOSE FROM PUS
HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO 374: NEW TERRITORIES LEASES
1. I THOUGHT IT RIGHT FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO SEE YOUR TELEGRAM AND HE HAS NOW DONE SO. HE COMMENTED THAT HE AGREED
WITH YOUR CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH.
2. THE SECRETARY OF STATE ALSO PICKED UP YOUR POINT THAT WHAT
IS PROPOSED MAY FALL FAR SHORT OF WHAT MANY PEOPLE IN HONG KONG
WOULD HAVE LIKED. DR OWEN IS HIMSELF CONCERNED ABOUT THE HONG
KONG REACTION TO THE UNDETERMINED LEASES IDEA AND WILL NO DOUBT
WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THIS WHEN HE VISITS HONG KONG NEXT MONTH.
3. IN THE MEANTIME, IT IS CLEARLY IMPORTANT TO AVOID ANY PUBLIC SUGGESTION THAT THE LEASES QUESTION WILL BE RAISED DURING THE
SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT. WE WILL WATCH THIS CAREFULLY.
OWEN
NO DISTN.
HdjHKYGD. Hd FED.
ps.
PS | LORD GOROMWY ROBERTS.
ps/pus. SIR. A DUFF SIRA PARSONS.
MRCORTAZZI MRMURRAY
SECRET