UKK 027/20
CONFIDENTIAL
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TOP CO
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23 SEP 1983
I
INDUS
PP HONG KONG
GRS 1612
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO 201730Z SEPT 85
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 941 OF 21 SEPTEMBER
AND TO PEKING,
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
MIPT: LINE FOR MR. LUCE TO TAKE AT HIS PRESS CONFERENCE IN HONG
KONG ON 28 SEPTEMBER 1983
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
''TALKS:
1. TALKS IN PEKING THROUGH DIPLOMATIC CHANNELS HAVE BEEN TAKING
PLACE AT INTERVALS SINCE THE PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO CHINA A
YEAR AGO. A SECOND MORE DETAILED PHASE BEGAN IN JULY. THE
LATEST SESSION WAS HELD ON 22/23 SEPTEMBER.
2.
TIMETABLE FOR TALKS AND CHINESE THREAT TO MAKE ANNOUNCEMENT BY 1984:
I CANNOT MAKE ANY USEFUL FORECAST OF HOW LONG THE TALKS WILL
TAKE. THE ISSUES ARE COMPLEX AND ARE NOT HELPED BY SUGGESTIONS
OF ARTIFICIAL DEADLINES. WE BELIEVE IT IS MORE IMPORTANT TO FIND
THE RIGHT SOLUTION IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF HONG KONG THAN TO
RUSH MATTERS. BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE UNDERSTAND HONG KONG'S
INTEREST IN AVOIDING UNDUE DELAY.
PROGRESS REPORTS ON TALKS:
3. FOR REASONS THAT WILL BE OBVIOUS TO YOU THE CONTENTS OF THE
TALKS MUST NECESSARILY REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL. THAT THE THE TALKS
ARE TAKING PLACE IN A GOOD ATMOSPHERE AND COVERING MUCH DETAILED
GROUND IS IN ITSELF VERY ENCOURAGING. DO NOT MISTAKE LACK OF
BULLETINS FOR INACTION.
MINISTERS' PARTICIPATION IN THE TALKS/WHY ARE YOU NOT GOING TO
CHINA?:
4. THE BRITISH NEGOTIATING TEAM IS LED BY OUR AMBASSADOR IN
PEKING, SIR P CRADOCK. THEY ARE DOING A FIRST CLASS JOB AND WE
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