SECRET
196
S SYS
ET
DENKBY HONG KONG 241237Z
Накачови
RECEIVED IN 2*
2 5 SEP 1979
FH PEKING 241145Z SCP 79
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 027 OF 24 SEPT 79
AND TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TOP
IND
Act
195
MY TWO IPTS: NEW TERRITORIES LEASES
NO.
Jor no 1925.91
See 197 (199)
THIS IS A DISAPPOINTING REPLY AND A MORE THOROUGH REJECTION
TIAN I PERSONALLY HAD ENVISAGED. 1 FEARED THAT THE PASSAGE ON
CONTINUING ADMINISTRATIVE POWERS MIGHT WELL STICK IN THE
CHINESE GULLETS BUT THE WHOLE PROPOSAL IS HERE REBUFFED AS
**UNNECESSARY AND INAPPROPRIATE AND A FIRM WARNING ADDED OF
THE EFFECTS IF WE PERGIST,
# $
Sea Hiric
040/1
THE CHINESE APPEAR TO BE UNWILLING TO UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR BRITISH LEGISLATIVE MEASURES (AS OPPOSED TO GENERAL CHINESE STATEMENTS) IN ORDER TO REASSURE INVECTORS. THEY APPEAR TO WISH TO KEEP THEIR OPTIONS OPEN AND TO AVOID A SITUATION IN WHICH THE BRITISH SEEM TO BE TAKING THE LEAD ON THE FUTURE OF THE COLONY AND CHINA ACQUIESCES. THEY SEEM PARTICULARLY NERVOUS
BOUT THE EFFECT OF THIS ABROAD. HERE THEY MAY BE THINKING OF THEIR HAGE IN NON-ALIGNED COUNTRIES, BUT THEY WILL ALSO
I
HAVE IN MIND THE EFFECT ON THEIR RELATIONS WITH TAIWAN.
WE SHALL NEED TO THINK CAREFULLY ABOUT OUR FORMAL RESPONSE. GIVEN THE FIRMNESS OF THE CHINESE LINE, IT WOULD, I THINK, BE UNWISE TO TRY AT ONCE TO ARGUE THROUGH THE WHOLE ISSUE AGAIN, BUT OUR IMMEDIATE AIM, I SUGGEST, SHOULD BE AT LEAST TO KEEP
A DIALOGUS GOING AND KEEP THIS REBUFF SECRET. WE SHALL ALSO
VEED TO CONSIDER WHAT REFERENCES WE MAKE TO THE SUBJECT IN THE TALKS WITH EITHER NUA GUOFENG OR HUANG HUA IN LONDON. } DOUBT
IF WE CAN AVOID IT. WE MIGHT CONSIDER A RESPONSE WHICH INCLUDED
THE FOLLOWING POINTS:
A.
WE APPRECIATE THE PRANKNESS WITH WHICH THE CHINESE HAVE
GIVEN US THEIR VIEWS ON HONG KONG.
3. THE PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG IS OF DIRECT CONCERN TO BOTH
SIDES.
-70
1981
SECRET
/C, DESPITE