GR 440
CONFIDENTIAL
ROK Mr. Williamson
done Afi/4.
CONFIDENTIAL
HAK 020 2 Ник
2012
BASAHY
RECEIVED IN RESORY NO. 5:
10 APR 982
DESK OFFRER
FM PEKING 170025Z APR 82
TO PRIORITY F C O
TELNO 228 OF 17 APRIL
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG.
Ф
INDEX
No
PA
C9€
22/4
Action Th
Ploscaly
YOUR TELNOS 246 AND 247: HONG KONG AND THE FALKLAND ISLAND CRISIS
1. I RECOGNISE THAT QUESTIONS ON THIS SUBJECT WILL BE EXTREMELY
DIFFICULT FOR MINISTERS AT THE PRESENT TIME. NEVERTHELESS, AS I AM SURE YOU RECOGNISE, IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO MAKE ANY COMMITMENTS ON SOVEREIGNTY OR THE PARAMOUNTCY OF THE WISHES OF
THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. NOT ONLY WOULD THIS PROBABLY PROVOKE A
HOSTILE CHINESE REACTION BUT IT WOULD BE QUITE BEYOND OUR POWER
TO STAND BY THEM IN THE FUTURE. I SUGGEST THAT THE BEST LINE IS TO DWELL ON THE LIMITED NATURE OF OUR SOVEREIGNTY OVER HONG KONG
AND THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS. THIS COULD EVEN HAVE THE POSITIVE ADVANTAGE IF HELPING TO IN EDUCATING PUBLIC OPINION ON THIS
SUBJECT.
2. BASED ON THESE CONSIDERATIONS I SUGGEST THE FOLLOWING MODIFICATIONS TO YOUR QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
3. THE FIRST SUPPLEMENTARY ON SOVEREIGNTY MIGHT BE SEEN AS SUGGESTING THAT THE CHINESE ACCEPT THE PROVISIONS OF THE ''UNEQUAL' TREATIES CONCEDING SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE ISLAND AND KOWLOON TO
THE UK. THEY DO NOT. IT IS NECESSARY TO BE SPECIFY THAT IT IS THE PRESENT PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR ADMINISTERING THE COLONY TO WHICH YOU ARE (I ASSUME) REFERRING, AND NOT THE PRESENT BRITISH VIEW OF SOVEREIGNTY.
See
4. ON THE FIRST ANSWER ON THE EXPIRY OF THE NEW TERRITORIES LEASE, I THINK THAT YOU COULD SAY **THE CHINESE HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THAT THEY REGARD, ETC' RATHER THAN JUST ''OUR IMPRESSION IS"
+
5. I DO NOT LIKE THE PROPOSED ANSWER TO THE QUESTION ON THE PARAMOUNTCY OF THE WISHES OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, PRIMARILY BECAUSE IT IS TANTAMOUNT TO SAYING NO WITHOUR EXPLAINING WHY, AND WOULD PROVOKE A HOSTILE REACTION IN THE AUDIENCE: I SUGGEST INSTEAD 'THE MAJOR PART OF THE TERRITORY OF HONG KONG IS LEASED FROM CHINA. THE LEASE EXPIRES IN 1997. I CAN GIVE AN ASSURANCE THAT THIS, AND I AM SURE ANY FUTURE GOVERNMENT, WILL DO THEIR UTMOST TO UPHOLD THE INTERESTS OF THE INHABITANTS OF HONG KONG WITHIN THE LIMITS IMPOSED BY THE CONSTITUTIONAL SITUATION OF THE COLONY, WHICH IS UNIQUE AND IN NO WAY ANALOGOUS TO THE FALKLANDS.'
CRADOCK
LIMITED HK v G D FED
SAMD LEGAL ADV
NEWS.D PS
PS / LOND BELSTEAD PS/PUS
HL GIFFARD HL DONALD
CONFIDENTIAL
1
COPIES TO
SIR E YOUDE HKG D
THIS TELEGRAM WAS NOT ADVANCED
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