SECRET
37
HACK OUD/1
2 8 MAR 1979
Mr Murray
MCA/lead for Rebusty firmer
INDEX
HONG KONG:
NEW TERRITORIES LEASES
1. I have despatched the Saving telegram approved by the Secretary of State (Mr Wall's minute of 12 March) and have arranged for the text to be passed to the Governor of Hong Kong in advance by secure means. The Governor will now inform his Executive Council in strict confidence. I have
no doubt that they will endorse the action proposed.
2.
The Secretary of State has asked whether there is any likely focus of dissent in Hong Kong. The answer is no.
On the contrary, opinion in Hong Kong would welcome action on the leases and would be in no doubt as to its significance for the future of Hong Kong. It will of course be essential
to avoid making any public reference to the action we have in mind before Chinese agreement has been obtained: if it became known that we had made an approach and had been rebuffed the effect on confidence could be serious.
3. I attach a draft DOP paper which covers the points in the third paragraph of Mr Wall's minute.
In anghen
14 March 1979
Copies to:
PS/Lord Goronwy-Roberts
PS/PUS
Sir A Duff
RJT McLaren
Hong Kong and General Department
Mr Cortazzi
Mr Stephen
FED
PUSD
Research Department
Mr Rushford, Legal Adviser
it
The Department discussed this
before submitting: I
SECRET
14
13
I agres
Dikemy
oronwy - Roberts
1473