DRAFT: XX/letter/tex/ospătól/hXič
FROM:
SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN
AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
DEPARTMENT:
PRIME MINISTER
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
TO:
Top Secret
Secret
Confidential
Restricted
10 DOWNING STREET
TEL. NO:
TYPE: Draft/Final 1-+
Reference
Your Reference
Copies to:
Unclassified
PRIVACY MARKING
SUBJECT: FUTURE OF HONG KONG
1.
...In Confidence
CAVEAT..
Enclosures-flag(s)......
we
Since I visited Hong Kong and Peking in April,
have been considering very carefully how to deal with
the problems which may result from uncertainty over the
Territory's future.
2.
I have taken particular account of the fact that
you have undertaken to visit China as a return for
Hua Guofeng's visit in 1979. I am sure that this would
be an excellent move in the context of our relations with
China and our international position as a whole. I know
that you have it in mind, subject to your other commit-
ments, to carry out this visit (together with Hong Kong
and Japan) in September 1982. With your agreement I
confirmed to the Chinese in April that you hoped to visit
China during 1982. When Humphrey Atkins goes in
January 1982 he can expect to be asked about possible
dates. He could, of course, give them the same general
response that I did. But time is going on and September
is a popular month for high-level visitors to Peking. I
suggest therefore that he should put down a marker that
you hope in principle to go in September.
SECRET
/3.