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2. Me Head CONFIDENTIAL 02062
2. Mr. Bai
2016
Jwikan
2016
Record of Meeting
Secretary of State Haig's Call at
on 12th June 1981
020/6 HKK 020/6
026
RECEIVED IN RECKAY NO. 51 0 6 JUL 1981
0:
REGISTRY
ernment House Taken
His Excellency
Sir Murray MacLehose
Sir Jack Cater
Mr J Bremridge
Mr I C Orr
Mr J A Miller
Secretary of State
the Honourable Alexander Hai
Mr Thomas Shoesmith,
US Consul-General
Mr J Holdridge,
Assistant Secretary,
Asian Affairs
cary,
Mr Goldberg, Special Assistant
Mr Fisher
#
Hong Kong/China Relations
า
Mr Haig said that whenever the Chinese talked
to him about Taiwan they referred to Hong Kong. In a recent meeting the Chinese Ambassador had told him that re-united Taiwan would be allowed to enjoy the sort of autonomy which Hong Kong now had. He asked whether the Chinese were prepared to discuss the question of the lease.
2.
HE said that it was clear from both his own and Lord Carrington's meetings with Deng that the Chinese were definite that in the long-term Hong kong would revert to the motherland. They were equally clear that in the short- term Hong Kong had an essential role to play in modernisation it provided 37% of China's foreign exchange in 1980. It was on the intermediate stage that they were vague.
Deng had evidently thought that his assurances would be sufficient to carry confidence in Hong Kong. He was surprised that
businessmen in Hong Kong continued to press for a more concrete assurance, particularly as Hong Kong's economy showed no signs of despondency. Ironically while the Chinese were happy to allow Hong Kong to continue the British legal position demanded some action as the Govem or's powers in the New Territories were tied to the lease. An Order in-Council could extend these powers but this would inevitably attract publicity and embarass the Chinese. Only
CONFIDENTIALne
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