Mr Cortazzi
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Hak asof
RAVEVED IN REGN
INDEX
720.
29. OFT 1979
202
Y
HONG KONG: NEW TERRITORIES LEASES
по
Jisico
A
B
136A
195
E
F
197
Problem
1. The Chinese have rejected the proposals for dealing with
the problem of land leases in the New Territories which were put
to them by HM Ambassador in Peking in July.
Recommendation
2
In minuting to the Prime Minister and his other OD colleagues
about this problem in July, the Secretary of State undertook to
FED concur. keep them informed. I submit a draft minute for this purpose. /
Background
3. The Secretary of State's minute of 2 July summarised the
background to this problem and set out the steps we proposed to
take to deal with it. Mr Cradock explained our proposals in
detail to the Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister, Song Zhiguang,
on 5 July and left a copy of his speaking note. Follow-up action
was subsequently taken in London and in Hong Kong.
4.
On 24 September Mr Song summoned the Ambassador and handed
him a memorandum containing the Chinese reply (Peking telegrams
Nos 825 and 826). This described the legal measures which we had
proposed as "unnecessary and inappropriate"; urged us not to
proceed with them; and warned of adverse repercussions if we
should persist.
5. Mr Cradock's comments are in Peking telegram No 827 and
They those of Sir M MacLehose in Hong Kong telegram No 1343.
agree that there can be no question of going ahead with the
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/original