195
23 655
SECRET
DESKBY HONG KONG 241100Z
FM PEKING 240935Z SEP 79
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
SECRET
AMENDED
TELEGRAM NUMBER 825 OF 24 SEPT 79
AND TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
DISTRIBUTION: 24/9/79
тор вору
нки
HKK ap/L
RECEIVED IN
2 5 SEP 1979
LESK OFFICE INDEX
194
40. 51
SUBISTAY Taka
J259 TL
по
Sep 196 197
лаа
NEW TERRITORIES LEASES
I WAS SUMMONED TO THE FOREIGN MINISTRY ON 24 SEPTEMBER BY ASSISTANT FOREIGN MINISTER SONG, WHO READ OUT TO ME THE REPLY TO OUR PROPOSAL OF 5 JULY AND THEN HANDED ME A HEMORANDUM GIVING THE TEXT (SEE MIFT)
208
See
бес НКК
04/1
(270)
1881
2. I UNDERTOOK TO TRANSMIT THIS. GIVING MY PRELIMINARY AND PERSONAL REACTION I SAID THAT, WHILE THE FRANKNESS OF THE CHINESE COMMENTS WOULD BE APPRECIATED, I FOUND IT A
1
DISAPPOINTING REPLY. AS HAD EARLIER BEEN MADE PLAIN, WE
APPRECIATED THE STATEMENT BY VICE-PREMIER DENG IN MARCH AND
THIS HAD HAD A GOOD EFFECT, BUT, THERE WAS A SHORT TERM
PROBLEM ABOUT LAND LEASES WHICH COULD NOT BE DEALT WITH
BY GENERAL ASSURANCES. IT WAS IN ORDER TO MEET THIS PROBLEM AND THE NEED FOR SOME LEGAL TIDYING UP ON OUR SIDE THAT WE
PUT FORWARD OUR PROPOSALS. WE WERE STILL FACING A PROBLEM WHICH
WOULD BECOME MORE ACUTE AS TIME WENT ON, BOTH SIDES HAD AN
INTEREST IN THE CONTINUING PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG. DID-
THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT CONSIDER THAT ANY OTHER MEASURES MIGHT
BE TAKEN THAT WERE NOT UNNECESSARY AND INAPPROPRIATE**
AND COULD MR SONG EXPAND ON THE REASONS FOR THE CHINESE
GOVERNMENT'S OBJECTIONS?
3. SONG REPLIED THAT THE GIST OF THE CHINESE POSITION WAS
IN THE MEMORANDUM. CHINA AND BRITAIN BOTH SUPPORTED THE
PROSPERITY AND FURTHER DEVELOPMENT UC HONG KONG. THE CHINESE
GOVERNMENT HAD GIVEN CONSIDERATION TO THE MEASURES THAT WE PROPOSED TO MAINTAIN CONFIDENCE, BUT TOOK THE VIEW THAT, SO LONG AS BOTH SIDES COOPERATED, CONFIDENCE COULD BE MAINTAINED.
SECRET
THE.