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CONFIDENTIAL
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Minister.
Issue
In 1113
DOUGLAS HURD
25
MP'S LETTER: PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO THE FAR EAST
Problem
1. To reply to a letter from Mr Roger Sims JP MP to the
Lord Privy Seal.
Recommendation
seefy
2. I recommend that, in the Lord Privy Seal's absence abroad,
Mr Hurd reply to Mr Sims on the lines of the attached draft.
Background and Argument
3. The Prime Minister is going to China and Hong Kong in
September. The expectation is growing in Hong Kong that she
will come away from Peking with agreement from the Chinese on
the future of the Territory. Whilst we very much hope that
this happens, we think it unlikely that the Chinese will by
then be ready for substantive discussions. There is therefore
a distinct danger that confidence within Hong Kong in its future
will suffer and we shall be doing what we can to cool speculation
between now and September.
15
هنا
9 March 1982
cc Mr Giffard
R D Clift
Hong Kong and General Department
CONFIDENTIAL
Page 120Page 121