Reference
..2.3.7.
A
236
B
attached
Goverant ofhe PRC.
<
Mr Hoare 419
Mr Clift 1
I agree th
HICI2 026/5
**
}
Pane $19.
PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT: ADVANCE INTERVIEW WITH CHINESE
CORRESPONDENTS
1.
FED have asked for a contribution from us on question 5 and possibly also on question 4 of the attached.
2.
In the main I think that the Prime Minister should concentrate on UK/China issues other than Hong Kong. However, since we do have a line agreed by Lord Belstead last month on the future of Hong Kong for use in interviews of this kind I see no harm in Mr Cox drawing on it. A copy of the version agreed is attached.
3.
Given that the interview is with Chinese rather than Japanese correspondents I think the first two sentences of the second paragraph would benefit from a little stiffening to read as follows:
4.
'I am sure that the future of Hong Kong will be one of the subjects discussed. I know that both we and the Chinese attach great significance to its continued stability and prosperity.
1
The final sentence of that paragraph could go into a short statement that the Prime Minister makes at the beginning of the interview to cover all subjects, not just Hong Kong's future.
CODE 18-77
SS 8/78
م الله
7 September 1982
W Morris