231
GPS 260
CONFIDENHAL
FM HONG KONG 140350Z NOV 81
TO IMMEDIATE F C O
MICK OTO/1
CONFIDENTIAL
RECENZE 77 BEASTY MD. $1
1€ NOWORKS
DESK OSTICEN
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1024 OF 14 NOVEMBER INFO PRIORITY PEKING, HONG KONG GOVERNMENDEOFFICE" LONDO
No
REFORM CLUB PAPER ON FUTURE OF HONG KONG
REZISTRY
૧૪
16/11
160 1614
"Copied to RED + кофт
Mr Donald.
Pas colll
THE REFORM CLUB OF HONG KONG HAVE PRODUCED A SHORT PAPER
PROPOSING THAT HMG SHOULD RELINQUISH ANY CLAIM TO HONG KONG
ISLAND AND KOWLOON AFTER 1997. IN RETURN THE CHINESE WOULD DECLARE
THE WHOLE OF HONG KONG TO BE A TRUST TERRITORY UNDER BRITISH
ADMINISTRATION FOR 20 YEARS AND THEREAFTER UNTIL THE CHINESE GIVE
10 YEARS NOTICE OF THEIR INTENTION TO RESUME CONTROL. THE PAPER
WILL BE RELEASED TO THE PRESS WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS AND IS
LIKELY TO BE WELL PUBLICISED HERE.
See (236)
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2. THE PAPER DRAWS HEAVILY ON AN ARTICLE BY ALFRED SHERMAN PUBLISHED IN THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST ON 5 SEPTEMBER (COPIED TO THE DEPARTMENT AT THE TIME). SHERMAN WAS DESCRIBED BY THE SCMP AS ''SPEECH WRITER FOR PRIME MINISTER MARGARET THATCHER''. THE REFORM CLUB SAY THAT HIS IDEAS SHOULD BE REGARDED AS A
SEMI-OFFICIAL INDICATION OF HMG'S VIEWS.
HASI
See like oyol
3. WE WILL TAKE THE FOLLOWING LINE IN RESPONSE TO PRESS ENQUIRIES
HERE:
(A) THE REFORM CLUB'S STATEMENT IS ONE EXPRESSION OF THE CONCERN ABOUT THE LONG TERM FUTURE FELT BY MANY PEOPLE IN HONG
KONG. THE GOVERNMENT TAKES NOTE OF ALL SUCH IDEAS AND OPINIONS.
IT WOULD NOT BE HELPFUL TO COMMENT ON THEM IN DETAIL.
(B) THE STATEMENT REFERS TO AN ARTICLE BY MR. ALFRED SHERMAN, PUBLISHED IN THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST ON 5 SEPTEMBER.
MR. SHERMAN IS NOT A SPOKESMAN FOR HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT.
HIS VIEWS ARE ENTIRELY HIS OWN.
(C) AS THE GOVERNOR SAID IN HIS ADDRESS TO LEGCO, RELATIONS WITH CHINA ARE EXCELLENT. THE STEADY DEVELOPMENT OF RELATIONS
BETWEEN HONG KONG AND C INA IS MAKING A VALUABLE CONTRIBUTION
TO HONG KONG'S FUTURE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY.
MACLEHOSE
see
HKK 36
232
19
1982
1981
19
MINIMAL
HRED (4)
NEWS D
CONFIDENMAL