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Hvere 026/1
DESKBY 150100 Z
FM F C O 141729Z JUL 82
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 544 OF 14 JULY
INFO PEKING
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR
*
YOUR TELNO 753: PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO CHINA: HONG KONG
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1. THE PRIME MINISTER HAD A PRIVATE CONVERSATION WITH THE CHINESE AMBASSADOR AFTER DINNER ON 12 JULY. THE AMBASSADOR SAID THAT SOVEREIGNTY OVER HONG KONG MUST PASS TO CHINA. THE PRIME MINISTER ENQUIRED WHETHER THE AMBASSADOR WAS REFERRING TO HONG KONG AND KOWLOON OR TO THE NEW TERRITORIES. THE REPLY WAS THAT SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE WHOLE AREA MUST BE TRANSFERRED. MR KE HUA SAID THAT CHINA DID NOT WISH TO DISTURB THE PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS. THE PRIME MINISTER REPLIED THAT A STATEMENT OF THAT KIND WOULD NOT BE SUFFICIENT TO GIVE THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE. SOMETHING MORE PRECISE WOULD BE NEEDED. THE AMBASSADOR'S LAST POINT WAS THAT HONG KONG COULD BE ADMINISTERED AS A SPECIAL REGION. THERE COULD BE A ROLE FOR BRITONS OR HONG KONG CITIZENS IN THE ADMINISTRATION ALONGSIDE CHINESE. THE PRIME MINISTER SAID THAT THE WELL-BEING OF HONG KONG RESTED ON A UNIQUE COOPERATION BETWEEN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND CHINA. BUT UNLESS BRITISH ADMINISTRATION CONTINUED, CONFIDENCE WOULD NOT SURVIVE.
2. IF UNOFFICIALS ENQUIRE, THERE IS NO OBJECTION TO YOU GIVING THEM THE GIST OF THIS CONVERSATION. YOU SHOULD HOWEVER EMPHASISE THAT CONFIDENCE SHOULD BE STRICTLY RESPECTED IN VIEW OF THE PRIVATE NATURE OF THE CONVERSATION.
PYM
LIMITED
HKGD
FED
PS
PS/LORD BELSTEAD
PS/PUS
MR GIFFARD
MR DONALD
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