8 JULY 1983
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GRS 669
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO 081530Z JUL 83
CONFIDENTIAL
TO ROUTINE CERTAIN MISSIONS AND DEPENDENT TERRITORIES GUIDANCE TELEGRAM NUMBER 083 OF 8 JULY 1983
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
1.
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HKK040/1
nam
патоло
THIS GUIDANCE CONTAINS BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON RECENT ↓ Colr
DEVELOPMENTS AND A LINE TO TAKE IN ANSWERING QUESTIONS.
YOU
MAY DRAW FREELY ON THIS EXCEPT WHERE OTHERWISE INDICATED BUT
YOU SHOULD CONTINUE TO AVOID INITIATING DISCUSSION ON THE SUBJECT.
LINE TO TAKE
2.
MEETINGS TO FOLLOW UP THE PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT THROUGH DIPLOMATIC CHANNELS BEGAN LAST OCTOBER AND ARE CONTINUING. ON
1 JULY THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT WAS ISSUED IN PEKING AND LONDON:
'FOLLOWING THE DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE LEADERS OF THE
TWO COUNTRIES IN SEPTEMBER 1982 AND SUBSEQUENT USEFUL
EXCHANGES, IT HAS BEEN AGREED THAT A SECOND PHASE OF
THE TALKS ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG WILL BEGIN IN
PEKING ON 12 JULY 1983.'
3. THE CHINESE SIDE HAVE ANNOUNCED THAT THEIR DELEGATION FOR
THIS SESSION WILL BE LED BY VICE FOREIGN MINISTER YAO GUANG.
THE BRITISH TEAM WILL BE LED BY HM AMBASSADOR SIR P CRADOCK:
THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG WILL ALSO TAKE PART.
4.
THE CONTENT OF THE TALKS MUST REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL. NO
TIMETABLE HAS BEEN SET, BUT WE ARE PRESSING ON AS QUICKLY AS
WE CAN.
5.
AS PART OF A CONTINUING PROCESS OF CONSULTATION, THE
GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG ACCOMPANIED BY THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS
OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL VISITED LONDON FOR TALKS WITH MINISTERS
ON 4 AND 5 JULY. THEY HAD MEETINGS WITH THE PRIME MINISTER,
THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY, AND MR LUCE. WE
REAFFIRMED OUR COMMITMENT TO HONG KONG AND OUR AIM OF SEEKING
ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE FUTURE, ACCEPTABLE TO PARLIAMENT, CHINA
AND THE PUBLIC OF HONG KONG. (THIS AIM WAS ALSO EXPRESSED IN
THE QUEEN'S SPEECH). WE ALSO EMPHASISED THE IMPORTANCE WE
ATTACH TO THE ADVICE OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WHICH WE SHALL
CONTINUE TO SEEK THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE TALKS.
6. IF ASKED ABOUT THE PROSPECTS, YOU COULD REFER TO THE
SECRETARY OF STATE'S SPEECH IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS ON 28 JUNE:
'THE BACKGROUND OF GOOD RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED
KINGDOM AND CHINA, AND OUR COMMON INTEREST IN ENSURING
THE FUTURE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF THE PEOPLE OF
HONG KONG GIVE GROUNDS FOR CONFIDENCE THAT WE SHALL BE
ABLE TO REACH A SATISFACTORY NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT.'
CONFIDENTIAL
/ONLY FOR
See (391)