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ZCZC LJX342 261216 DXA534 YY TWX
16.
PROHONGA ID LONDON NINE:
GIS 536/79 (ADD)
YAX562 26-1147 YHE534
BRITAIN ALSO STANDS TO GAIN FROM THE CLARIFICATION OF HONGKONG'S SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH CHINA (EVEN IF THE LONG-DISCUSSED HARRIER DEAL DOES NOT COME OFF). HONGKONG, SO LONG REGARDED BY TUNNELLED-VISIONED AMBASSADORS IN PEKING AS AN UNFORTUNATE AND ANACHRONISTIC OBSTACLE TO SINO-BRITISH RELATIONS NOW PROVIDES A UNIQUE BASE FOR THE EXPANSION OF MUTUALLY PROFITABLE TRADE AND ECONOMIC COOPERATION.
THE PEOPLE OF HONGKONG ARE NOT ONLY UNCERTAIN ABOUT THEIR FUTURE AS ORDAINED BY PEKING, THEY ARE UNCERTAIN ABOUT THE DEGREE TO WHICH BRITAIN ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS DEPENDENT TERRITORY. THESE DOUBTS ARE INCREASED BY IMMIGRATION LEGISLATION WHICH YOU PROPOSE, WHICH WILL MAKE NO DISTINCTION BETWEEN THEIR STATUS AND CITIZENS OF INDEPENDENT COUNTRIES OF THE COMMONWEALTH, OVER THE HORIZON THERE LIES THE UNATTRACTIVE POSSIBILITY THAT ONE DAY YOU WILL 3E REPLACED BY A LABOUR PRIME MINISTER WHOSE POLICIES WILL BE DICTATED BY THE LIKES OF TONY BENN, WHO APPEARS TO PREFER THE DICTATORS OF THE SOVIET UNION TO THE NEWLY PRAGMATIC LEADERS OF CHINA, AND WHOSE SYMPATHY FOR THE SUCCESSFUL MARKET. ECONOMY OF HONGKONG IS LIKELY TO BE MINIMAL.
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ZCZC LTX244 261221 DXC985 YY TWX
1630: PROHONGAID LONDON TEN:
GIS 536/79 (ADD)
YBX151 26-1150 YHE535
IT IS SURELY YOUR DUTY AS THE PRIME MINISTER OF BRITAIN TO IGNORE THE OVER-CAUTIOUS ADVICE OF THE BUREAUCRATS WHO SURROUND YOU AND POINT OUT TO CHAIRMAN HUA HOW MUCH MORE HELPFUL HONGKONG .COULD BE TO CHINA'S MODERNISATION IF ITS FUTURE WERE SECURED.
WE WOULD SUGGEST YOU OWE THAT DUTY NOT ONLY TO THE BUSINESSMEN OF BRITAIN AND HONGKONG WHO WOULD PROFIT FROM SUCH AN ASSURANCE, BUT TO THE 5 MILLION PLUS PEOPLE WHO STILL IT IS SURELY UNNECESSARY TO REMIND YOU LIVE UNDER THE UNION FLAG.
YOURS SINCERELY,
DEREK DAVIES
EDITOR
FOLLOWING 15 SCMP'S LEADER:
WOULD SOMEBODY WITH THE EAR OF MRS MARGARET THATCHER WHISPER A DISCREET MESSAGE BEFORE HER TALKS LATER THIS MONTH WITH CHAIRMAN HUA GUOFENG. FOR WHILE THE BRITISH PRIME MINISTER AND HER DISTINGUISHED GUEST FROM CHINA HAVE A NUMBER OF TOPICS OF COMMON
INTEREST TO DISCUSS, INCLUDING TRADE, ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE, CULTURAL EXCHANGES, THEIR COMMON ANTIPATHY FOR MOSCOW, EVÉN THE INCREASINGLY SERIOUS INFLUX OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TO HONGKONG, THERE IS ONE MAJOR OMISSION IN THE AGENDA: THE FUTURE OF HONGKONG. MORE==