GPS 700
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What is thuted the on the five please?
FM HONG KONG 07092OZ SEP 83 ale write
TO HIMMEDIATE FCO
Macac!!
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1312 OF 7 SEPTEMBER 1983
INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
HKK
S
027/9
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY. ST - 8 SEP 1983
DESK OFACE!
INDEX
PA
GOVERNOR'S RETURN: PRESS AT AIRPORT.
FOLLOWING MS A LIST OF POSSIBLE PRESS QUESTIONS AND LINE TO TAKE. HF ANYTHING ELSE MIS LIKELY TO COME UP, DS WILL BRIEF YOU ON ARRIVAL.
1. Q. HAS THE PM GIVEN YOU OR SIR PERCY CRADOCK ANY FRESH
INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING THE NEXT ROUND OF TALKS WN PEKING ON
SEPTEMBER 227
A. SIR PERCY AND I HAD VERY USEFUL DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PM
AND FCO MINISTERS IN LONDON BUT AS YOU ALL KNOW THE DETAILS CANNOT
BE DISCLOSED. HMG REMAINS COMMITTED TO SEEKING A SOLUTION TO THE
QUESTION OF THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG WHICH IS ACCEPTABLE NOT ONLY
TO THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS BUT TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG
KONG. THE PM MADE THAT PERFECTLY CLEAR. THERE HAS BEEN NO DEVATHION
FROM THAT AUM AND WE GO FORWARD TO THE NEXT ROUND OF TALKS IN
PEKING ON THAT BASHIS.
2. Q. THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENCE ATTENDED YOUR MEETING
WITH THE PM. WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT?
A. NO REAL SIGNIFICANCE, APART FROM THE FACT THAT HE HAS A DIRECT INTEREST IN WEW OF THE PRESENCE OF BRATHISH FORCES N HONG KONG
3. Q. WAS HIMS INCLUSHION PROMPTED BY REPORTS THAT THE PLA HAS
CONTINGENCY PLANS TO COME TO HONG KONG?
A. NO. THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENCE HIS HNVOLVED FOR THE
REASON STATED ABOVE AND FOR NO OTHER.
4. Q. WILL THE BRITISH QUOTE ORIENT EXPRESS UNQUOTE DEPLOYMENT
GROUP HEADING FOR THE FAR EAST VISIT HONG KONG?
A. THE DEPLOYMENT GROUPS ON HTS WAY TO THE FAR EAST MAINLY
FOR THE PURPOSE OF TAKING PART IN EXERCISES IN THE PACIFIC. HITS
PROGRAMME HAS NOT YET BEEN FINALISED SO : DO NOT KNOW IF IT WILL
VISIT HONG KONG.
5. Q. T APPEARS FROM RECENT STATEMENTS FROM THE CHINESE SIDE (E.G.
HU YAOBANG AND XU HATUN) THAT CHINA IS BREACHING THE CONFIDENTIALITY
OF THE TALKS. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE BRITISH AND HONG KONG GOVERN-
MENTS HAVE REMAINED SILENT. HAS THERE BEEN A CHANGE IN THE BRITISH
POLICY WHILE YOU WERE IN LONDON?
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