GPS 220
CONFIDENTIAL
FCO DESK BY 233800Z
PEKING DESKBY 230730Z
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 230503Z JUN 83
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 851 OF 23 JUNE 1983
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
pa
(67)
viset file
TOP COPY
HICK 026/5
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
2 4 JUN 1983
DESK OFFICER
YOUR TELNO 386 TO PEKING PARAS 9 AND 10: FUTURE OF INDEX KONG. PA VISIT BY UNOFFICIALS TO LONDON
1. THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, QUOTING THE LATEST EDITION OF THE FAR EASTERN ECONOMIC REVIEW WHICH WILL APPEAR LATER TODAY HAS A VERY SHORT PIECE ON AN INSIDE PAGE SAYING THAT NINE MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ARE TO VISIT LONDON SOON, BEFORE SUB- STANTIVE TALKS BETWEEN BRITAIN AND CHINA ON THE TERRITORY'S FUTURE START, AND THAT THEY WILL BRIEF THE NEW SECRETARY OF STATE ON EXCO'S VIEWS ON THE ISSUE. NO DATES ARE GIVEN.
2. TODAY'S HONG KONG ECONOMIC JOURNAL (INDEPENDENT CHINESE LANGUAGE) CARRIES ON ITS FRONT PAGE A MORE SPECIFIC STORY THAT SIR S Y CHUNG WILL LEAD A DELEGATION OF EXCO UNOFFICIALS TO LONDON EARLY NEXT MONTH FOR MEETINGS WITH THE PRIME MINISTER, THE SEC- CRETARY OF STATE AND MR LUCE SUGGESTING JULY 4 AND 5 AS THE LIKELY DATES. THE REPORT STATES (INACCURATELY) THAT THE DELEGATION'S VISIT WILL COINCIDE WITH MY LEAVE IN THE UK AND IT IS THEREFORE LIKELY THAT I WILL TAKE PART IN MEETINGS WITH MINISTERS.
3. ENQUIRIES HAVE SO FAR FAILED TO ESTABLISH THE SOURCE OF THIS LEAK. IN RESPONSE TO PRESS ENQUIRIES WE ARE SAYING THAT WE HAVE NO COMMENT TO MAKE AT THIS STAGE. THIS SHOULD HOLD THE LINE FOR THE TIME BEING. BUT ASSUMING THAT THE AMBASSADOR HAS BEEN ABLE TO CONTACT ZHOU NAN AGAIN DURING THE COURSE OF TODAY IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO BE ABLE TO ISSUE THE AGREED STATEMENT TOMORROW. YOUDE
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
REGISTRY
Action Taken
LIMINEND
COPIES TO
HD/HKD
ED/FED
ED/PLANNING STAFF
HD/PUSD
PS
PS/LADY YOUNG
PS/MR-LUCE
PS/FUS
SIR J BULLARD
MR GIFFARD
MR DONALD MA WRIGHT
SIR I SINCLAIR
LEGAL ADVISER
MR BURROWS LEGAL ADVISERS
ASSESSMENTS STAFF
MR ROBERTS
NEWS D
MR MARTIN
MR FLOWER
CABINET OFFICE
PUSD
MR COLES NO 10 DOWNING STREET
SIR A PARSONS 11
19
CONFIDENTIAL