CONFIDENTIAL
29
A
133
AKK Ouoll
B
Hickcouoli
C
123
$5192
PS/Mr Ridley'
Parliamentary Unit
Cc: Mr Donald
FED
U
PQ:
1.
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
АКК оно
ouol
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51
18 FFR 1981
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
ملل
PA
REGISTRY
Action Taken:
$19.21 AN 202
I submit a draft answer, notes for supplementaries and a background note for a starred PQ put down by the Lord Brockway for oral answer on 13 February. The answer and the line of the
supplementaries have been cleared with the Hong Kong Government, and HMA, Peking. FED and NTD concur.
2. A similar Question was asked by Mr Frank Hooley (Sheffield,
Heeley Labour) on 29 October.
-
3. The political future of Hong Kong was not discussed during
Chinese Foreign Minister Huang Hua's visit to London last
October. There was discussion on individual Crown leases for
the New Territories, but to say this publicly could have an adverse effect on confidence in the territory. The future of
Hong Kong was touched on during the visit of the then Chinese
Premier Hua Guofeng in November 1979. This was in the context
of New Territories Crown leases and business confidence which,
while high at present, is increasingly dependent on assurances of Chinese goodwill. It was agreed that HMG and the Chinese
Government would keep in touch on the matter.
4. If the Secretary of State's visit to the Far East has been
announced by 13 February (subject now only to Chinese agreement,
News Dept propose to announce it on 12 February) there may be
a supplementary question on whether the future of Hong Kong will
be discussed in Peking. No specific discussions are planned
although individual land leases may come up. The reply should
thus be 'No'. It would harm confidence to suggest that talks were in prospect:
Should the Minister be pressed for a fuller
reply the Governor advises using the formula in supplementary No 3.
10 February 1981
ip
R D Clift
CONFIDENTIAL