160
SECRET
SECRET
HKKO
137
FM PEKING 660328Z JUL 79
TO PRIORITY FCO
DISK OYAKEN
INDEX
PA
TELEGRAM NUMBER 623 OF 6 JULY
По
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG .
8107
Sef Tens
136
MiP T2
T#
NEW TERRITORIES LEASES.
ник, око //
१०
1981
1.
AS EXPECTED, SONG'S RESPONSE GAVE LITTLE AWAY. LIKE LIAO CHENGZHI DURING THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT (SEE PARA -6 OF MY TELNO.345) HE REFERRED TO DENG'S REMARKS AND REMINDED US THAT DENG HAD SET THE LIMITS TO WHICH THE CHINESE COULD GO (WHATEVER THAT MAY MEAN IN PRACTICE). HE WARNED US IT WAS A COMPLICATED ISSUE BUT COULD
IT WAS A COMPLICATED HARDLY HAVE SAID LESS, ON THE WHOLE A NEUTRAL REACTION.
2. AS REGARDS FOLLOW-UP ACTION, LIKE THE GOVERNOR (HONG KONG · TELNO.926) ↑ AM CONCERNED LEST WE OVER-EGG THE PUDDING AND ALAERM THE CHINESE, WE SHOULD TRY TO KEEP A FAIRLY LOW PROFILE AND PRESENT OUR ACTION AS AN ESSENTIAL PIECE OF LEGAL HOUSEKEEPING IN OUR COMMON INTEREST. IT IS ESSENTIAL TO FOLLOW UP ACTION HERE WITH EXPLANATIONS TO NCNA IN HONG KONG (WHO USE A DIFFERENT CHANNEL FOR REPORTING TO THE CHINESE LEADERS),
BUT ON THE WHOLE
! SHOULD PREFER TO AVOID FURTHER ACTION IN LONDON,
CRADOCK
FILE S:
HK & G D
FED
PS
FS/LFS
PS/MR BLAKER
PS/PUS
MR MURRAY
MR RUSHFORD LEGAL ADVISER
SECRET