NOTE TO PRESS OFFICERS
Entir
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
MKKC040/2 нккою
KAINED IN KADRY NO. 57
13 MAY 1983
INDS
TRY
C ́on Taker
CH17/5
The Hong Kong press are today carrying a story to the effect that talks
would begin in Peking next Friday, 20 May, after agreement on the basis of the Chinese formula ie the UK would recognise Chinese sovereignty over
the whole of Hong Kong. The Governor was awaiting instructions from
London on whether he should attend. The report also mentions a senior
official in the FOO stating that because the British side was no longer
insisting on sovereignty the two sides could proceed to the necessary
arrangements for the transfer.
LINE TO TAKE
>
No
Discussions with the Chinese are continuing and are confidential.
officials of the FCO or any other Government Department have made any
statement on the talks. There were no plans at the moment for the Governor
to visit Peking. He would, as we have already announced, go when the
talks reached an appropriate stage.
The Hong Kong spokesman will add that the newspaper reports are not an accurate representation of the state of the talks or of the British position. People should not be misled by what they have heard outside
the talks. The only authentic information is that which emerged from the
talks themselves.
IAR
13.5.83
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