D
Mr Murra
Murray
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
Problem
1.
Некоторы
PED IN REGISTA” NO.
26 OCT 1979
WESK OFFICER
Mis fiatic
ROHR 26/10/239 Iwilwanson
News Dept. in formel that line appoved as ammended. Telegram sent to Hong Kong, copied to Pebring
82.
Tomorrow's issue of the Far Eastern Economic Review will
include an open letter from the Editor urging the Prime Minister
to raise the future of Hong Kong with Premier Hua Guofeng.
Reuter's have today carried an item on this, including extracts
from Mr Davies' letter. News Department have asked for guidance
on the line to take (which they would pass on to No 10 Downing
Street).
Recommendation
2.
I recommend the line set out in the attached piece of paper.
If this is agreed I will arrange for it to be telegraphed to
Hong Kong. FED agree.
Background
3. We are, of course, recommending that the Prime Minister and
the Secretary of State should raise the New Territories Leases
issue with Premier Hua Guofeng. Any exchanges on this subject
must be kept secret. It is not the intention to raise longer
term issues which are, as Mr Blaker said recently in Hong Kong,
a matter for the future. There is no reason why we should not
say so, and refuse to be drawn further.
4. There has been no time to clear the proposed line with Hong
Kong but it draws on material agreed with the Governor and
Mr Cradock at the time when we were preparing for a possible
/leak
SECRET