CODE 18-77
Reference...
225
Mr Williamson aus.
Mr Friar
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
SECRET
MICK RECEPAND
DESK INDEX
лю
04 BOARY HD. ST
1 1 NOV 1981
FA
211.11
on Taken
Pars 13/1
1. Mr Michael Banks of Trafalgar Holdings telephoned to say that Mr John Wu of the same company had recently been in Peking and had got a view on Hong Kong's future from a Vice-Minister of the Metallurgical Industry (un-named).
2. The Minister apparently said that China had a solution ready. This involved a three-way administration of Hong Tong (China, Britain and local Hong Kong interests) with China getting rent from Hong Kong taxation.
3. Mr Wu apparently said that he thought the idea was a completely non-starter. It certainly is and I very much doubt whether the Vice-Minister knew very much about the subject at all. It is,
I suppose, of some interest that he was prepared to speculate.
4.
Not, I think, worth reporting to Hong Kong or Peking.
R D Clift
10 November 1981
Hong Kong and General Department
cc Mr Davies, FED
SECRET