GRS 125
IDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
RECLIVET
FM HONG KONG 020902Z NOV 79
TO IMMEDIATE F C O
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1548 OF 2 NOVEMBER
**SK OFFICER
INVEX
PA
a
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE
LONDON.
See258
PREMIER HUA'S VISIT.
VISIT.
257
1. A REUTER'S REPORT DATELINED LONDON, 1 NOVEMBER, RECEIVED HERE TODAY, SAYS THAT THE PRIME MINISTER AND HUA WERE 'SAID TO HAVE
TOUCHED ON THE QUESTION OF HONG KONG'S FUTURE WHEN THE SO-CALLED CROWN LEASE EXPIRES IN 1997''. THE REPORT GOES ON TO SAY THAT BRITAIN IS WORRIED THAT BUSINESS CONFIDENCE WILL ERODE UNLESS ''PEKING INDICATES IT WILL NOT TAKE BACK HONG KONG''. THE REPORT
THEN QUOTES 'A BRITISH SPOKESMAN' AS SAYING THAT HUA WAS SYMPATHETIC AND UNDERSTOOD OUR POINT".
CHAIRMAN
2. GRATEFUL TO KNOW WHAT, IF ANYTHING, WAS SAID BY NEWS DEPARTMENT ON THE SUBJECT AND FOR GUIDANCE FOR LOCAL BRIEFING.
MACLEHOSE
FILES
HK & GD
NEWS D
IPD
PS/MR RIDLEY
MR CORTAZZI
MR MURRAY
MR STRATTON
CONFIDENTIAL