HOFO 004/4
T/L FCO
T/L
PEKMING
GPS 175
RESTRICTED
TELELETTER
FROM:
RP MARGOLIS ESQ
R
HKK04012
RALLIVED IN NGGISTRY
OV 1983
(90)
or
Komis
on 4/11.
TO:
DEPUTY POLITICAL ADVISER
HONG KONG
W MORRMIS ESQ
HONG KONG DEPARTMENT
DATED:
3 NOVEMBER 1983
C.C.:
D G BLUNT ESQ
PEKING
M
Extmordinary. But
I don't sa Haldive i
ach to be taken.
Hali
Gg to 14 Thausn RED Marge Reso.
1. THE NOVEMBER ISSUE OF CHENG MING MAGAZINE CARRIES A HIGHLY SPECULATIVE ARTICLE ON THE NEGOTIATIONS. THE SUPPOSED DETAILS ARE WILDLY MINACCURATE, BUT THE MAGAZINE DOES CLAIM OFFICIAL SOURCES FOR SOME PARTS OF THE STORY. THE DAILY PRESS QUITE OFTEN REPLAYS ARTICLES FROM CHENG MING, ALTHOUGH THERE HAS SO FAR BEEN LITTLE SIGN OF THIS.
2. THE ARTICLE SUGGESTED THAT THE PRIME MINISTER HAD SAID IN A RECENT LETTER TO CHINESE LEADERS THAT BRITAIN WOULD CO-OPERATE WITH CHINA IN MAINTAINING HONG KONG'S PROSPERITY BEFORE 1997 PROVIDED NT COULD PARTHICHPATE IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG ISLAND AND SOUTH KOWLOON FOR A PERIOD OF 30 TO 50 YEARS BEYOND 1997. THE ARTICLE QUOTED AN UNNAMED SENIOR CHINESE OFFICIAL MN HONG KONG AS SAYING THAT THE DEADLOCK MN THE TALKS HAD BEEN CAUSED BY BRITHSH DELAYHING TACTICS. BRITAIN WAS WANTING FOR A MORE OPPORTUNE TIME TO PURSUE DETAILED NEGOTIATIONS BECAUSE MOST OF THE CHINESE LEADERS WERE VERY OLD AND THERE MIGHT BE LEADERSHIP CHANGES. LONDON ALSO HAD ANOTHER TRUMP CARD, NAMELY THE POS- SIBILITY OF ACCEPTING A TAMWANESE PLAN FOR QUOTE TURNING HONG KONG
NTO A FREE PORT UNQUOTE.
3. THE ARTICLE ALSO CONTAMINS OBSCURE REFERENCES TO AN UNNAMED HONG KONG COUNCILLOR WITH LINKS WITH TAIWAN AND PEKING BUT WHO HAD SOMEHOW UPSET THE PEKING GOVERNMENT WHO HAD GIVEN HIM THE COLD SHOULDER ON HIS MOST RECENT VISIT.
4. FINALLY THE ARTICLE SAND THAT THE TAIWANESE AUTHORITIES WERE MAKING PLANS TO BUILD HOUSES TO ACCOMMODATE ONE MILLION PEOPLE FROM HONG KONG WHO MIGHT WISH TO EMIGRATE MAN THE EVENT OF A
CHINESE TAKEOVER.
871,
!!
? Alar hee
༔
SIGNED:
R P MARGOLIS
NNNN