CONFIDENTIAL
180)
GRS 65
CONFIDENTIAL
DESKBY 07100OZ
FM CANBERRA 07031OZ NOV 83
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 567 OF 7 NOVEMBER
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, HONG KONG
FUTURE OF HONG KONG: AUSTRALIAN INTEREST
!
TOP COPY
HIKKO 402.
RECEIVED the outd
~1083
KGIST. Action Tar
CMOL·
1. ABC RADIO NEWS TODAY CARRIED PROMINENTLY NEWS OF A SUNDAY
TIMES REPORT OF A QUOTE SECRET DEAL UNQUOTE BETWEEN THE PRIME
MINISTER AND THE CHINESE OVER HONG KONG'S FUTURE, WHICH APPARENTLY CLAIMS THAT WE HAD NOW CONCEDED SOVEREIGNTY, AND THAT AS A RESULT
PROGRESS IN THE SINO-BRITISH TALKS HAS NOW SPEEDED UP.
See (293
2. WE MAY WELL BE ASKED ABOUT THIS REPORT HERE. GRATEFUL
FOR EARLY GUIDANCE.
MASON
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
LIMITED
ED/EKD
D/FED
ED/PLANNING STAFF
ED/PUSD
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
COPIES TO: (VIA DISTR. ROOM)
SIR PHILIP MOORE BUCKINGHAM PALACE PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL
PS/HOME SECRETARY
PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXOSEQUER
PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL
PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND
INDUSTRY
COPIES TO:
(VIA ADR)
MR ROBERTS
NEWS DEPT
ME BURROWS LEGAL ADVISERS MR COLES NO 10 DOWNING ST SIR A PARSONS
MR MARTIN
#
ASSESSMENT STAFF
CABINET OFFICE
WR GOODALL CABINET OFFICE MR
BRENNAN
PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL