Mr Donald
Sir Eude
SECRET
SECRETARY OF STATE'S FAR EAST TOUR : INTERVIEW WITH BBC EXTERNAL SERVICES: FUTURE OF HONG KONG
Problem
1. The Secretary of State is being interviewed by the BBC World Service on 25 March. What should he say, if asked, about the
future of Hong Kong and possible talks with the Chinese Government?
Recommendation
2.
I recommend that Lord Carrington speak on the lines of the
attached draft brief. The Governor of Hong Kong and HM Ambassador,
Peking, concur.
Background and Argument
3. The question of Hong Kong's future has been touched on in discussions with Chinese leaders during the past few years. It
was mentioned during discussions between the Prime Minister and
then Premier Hua Guofeng in November 1979. The Secretary of State had a short discussion on the subject with the Chinese Foreign
Chinese
Minister, Huang Hua, during the latter's visit to London in
October 1980.
4. When we have raised the subject with the Chinese, we have
not suggested tackling the problem of the longer-term future
but asked for their help in maintaining short- and medium-term
confidence, particularly over the problem of individual land
leases in the New Territories. The brief for the Secretary of
State's visit to China in early April is on similar lines although
contingency briefing is provided in the unlikely event that the Chinese wish to broaden the discussion to include matters touching
on the longer-term future.
15.
SECRET