RESTRICTED

Foreign and Commonwealth Office's London SW1A 2AH

ник

Telephone 01233 3988

02617.

PM 5:

D Bolger Esq

Private Secretary to the Head of Government Accountancy Service Department of Industry (Room 910) Ashdown House

123 Victoria Street

LONDON SW1

Your reference

Our reference

Date

2 March 1982

4

seefy

7

'S VISIT TO HONG KONG

MR SHARP'S

1. Enclosed is a copy of our background brief on Hong Kong which Mr Sharp may find useful.

2. As for the future of Hong Kong, Mr Sharp should be aware that when the Lord Privy Seal visited China (and Hong Kong) in January the Chinese told him that they were addressing their minds to the problem and would be studying it soon. They realised something had to be done before 1997 and they did not want the prosperity of Hong Kong damaged.

3. While we find this attitude generally encouraging we do not think anyone is expecting any rapid developments. All the same, we are well aware of the importance of maintaining investor confidence in Hong Kong, and of taking into account the interest of its people.

ps

Paco M13

43

W Morris

Hong Kong and General Department

RESTRICTED

Share This Page