289
GPS 210
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 07094OZ NOV 83
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1691 OF 7 NOVEMBER 1983
INFO PRIORITY PEKING
206
"OP COPY
YOUR TELNO 761 TO PEKING: PRESS COVERAGE OF FUTURE
MKK0402
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY!
- 7 NOV 1983
DESK OF FICER
INDEX
1. THE JAPANESE CONSULATE HERE HAVE GIVEN US AN ACCOUNT DE VICE FOREIGN MINISTER QHAN QICHEN'S MEETING WITH THE JIH AGENCY REPORTERS, WHICH THEY OBTAINED FROM THE JIJN BUREAU CHIEF IN HONG KONG, WHO WAS PRESENT. QUAN APPEARS TO HAVE GIVEN A FAIRLY STANDARD EXPOSITION OF THE CHINESE LINE ON HONG KONG, INCLUDING A REFERENCE TO CHINA'S INTENTION OF ANNOUNCING ITS PLANS FOR HONG KONG UNILATERALLY IF NO AGREEMENT HAD BEEN REACHED BY SEPTEMBER 1984. ONE OF THE JOURNALISTS THEN ASKED WHETHER THIS MEANT THAT THE NEGOT- ATHONS COULD NOT IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES CONTINUE BEYOND SEPTEMBER 1984, TO WHICH QIAN REPLIED THAT THE CHINESE WERE PREPARED TO CONTINUE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE BRITISH SIDE QUOTE ON CONCRETE MEASURES UNQUOTE AFTER THE DEADLINE.
2. THE REPORTS FILED BY THE AGENCY FOLLOWING THE MEETING GIVE THE IMPRESSION THAT QUAN HAD VOLUNTEERED UNPROMPTED
THE THOUGHT THAT NEGOTIATIONS MIGHT CONTINUE BEYOND SEPTEMBER 1984 EVEN IF THERE HAD BEEN NO AGREEMENT. THIS IS NO DOUBT
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE UNJUSTIFIED CONCLUSIONS TO WHICH THE LOCAL PRESS (AND IN PARTICULAR THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST) LEAPT. THE RESPONSES BY AN MFA SPOKESMAN UN PEKING TO TELE- PHONE ENQUIRIES FROM THE HONG KONG STANDARD (MY TELNO 1637) APPEAR TO BE AN ATTEMPT TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT.
207
PA
m
REGISTRY
Action Taken
YOUDE
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
LIMITED
HD/HKD
ED/FED
ED/PLANNING STAFF
ED/PUSD
THIS TELEGRAM WAS NOT ADVANCED
COPIES TO: (VIA DISTR. ROOM)
SIR FILIP MOORE BUCKINGHAM PALAC PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF SE COUNCIL PS/HOME SECRETARY
PS/CHANCELLOR OF TE EXEQUER
PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL
PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND
D/HD/PUSD(MR FLOWER)
RESEARCH DEPT(MR WALKER)
LEGAL ADVISER(SIR IAN SINCLAIR)
PS
PS/LADY YOUNG
PSAR LUCE
PS/PUS
SIR J BULLARD
MR GIFFARD
MR DONALD MR WRIGHT
CONFIDENTIAL
INDUSTRY
COPIES TO:
(VIA ADR)
NEWS DEPT
MR ROBERTS
ME. BURROWS LEGAL ADVISERS MR COLES NO 10 DOWNING ST SIR A PARSONS
MR MARTIN ASSESSMENT STAFF CABINET OFFICE MR GOODALL CABINET OFFICE HR BRENNAN PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL
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