73
Mr Donald
Brief presumably detached by Private Offic
gade
Sir E Youde
HKGD
Many
thanks
SECRET
13
PS/Mr Blobin
RuyL
Pa.
Provate Seenity Hkic ouoll 25/
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51
MAS
REGISTRY
SECRETARY OF STATE'S FAR EAST TOUR: INTERVIEW WITH BBC EXTERNAL- SERVICES: FUTURE OF HONG KONG
Problem
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
Action Taken
胍 Ah Sof
مسر
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
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.
SECRET
/5.