Enter (fren Reports) and
to Ms frest
HOFO 043/21
TT PEKING
TT FCO
GR 300
RESTRICTED
TELELETTER
MKK04012
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
23SEP 1783
DSP OFFICEA
INDEX
ACCIS
↑ cm2919
acher / Dinhib /863
21/0941
2215
FROM: A.L. LANG, ASSISTANT SECRETARY, GENERAL DUTIES, HONG KONG
FILE REF: NFR
TO: D. BLUNT, PEKING
COPY TO: W. MORRIS,, HKD
DATED 21 SEPTEMBER 1983
FCO
THE LATEST EDITION OF THE LEFT WING MONTHLY WIDE ANGLE' CARRIES
A ''PERSPECTIVE INTO THE SEPTEMBER HONG KONG TALKS''. IN AN
ACCOUNT OF THE MESSAGE WHICH DENG XIAOPING GAVE TO MR EDWARD HEATH
RECENTLY (AND WHICH THE AUTHOR EXPECTS MR HEATH TO PASS ON TO
THE APPROPRIATE AUTHORITIES). DENG IS SAID TO HAVE INDICATED THAT IF CHINA FAILED TO REEXERCISE SOVEREIGNTY IN 1997, THE PRESENT
LEADERS WOULD FALL. ALTHOUGH SOVEREIGNTY AND ADMINISTRATION WERE
INDIVISIBLE, CHINA WOULD TAKE BRITISH INTERESTS AND FACE INTO CONSIDERATION. THE BRITISH WOULD BE ABLE TO STAY ON AS ADVISERS
AFTER HONG KONG BECOMES A SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION OF CHINA. AT WORST THE BRITISH WOULD SUFFER SOME LOSSES IN REVENUE, TO WHICH
SIR PERCY CRADOCK IS QUOTED AS REPLYING ''THE REVENUES BELONG TO
HONG KONG, AND BRITAIN WILL NOT TAKE THEM AWAY11
2. THE ARTICLE GOES ON TO REITERATE THE FAMILIAR THEME THAT THE
BRITISH ARE PLAYING THE PUBLIC OPINION CARD AS A MEANS OF BRINGING
PRESSURE TO BEAR ON THE NEGOTIATIONS. HOWEVER THEY HAVE OVER-
ESTIMATED THE EXTENT OF THEIR SUPPORT AND RECENT EVENTS, SUCH AS THE RALLY AGAINST PRICE INCREASES, HAVE SHOWN HOW FEW PEOPLE
ARE PREPARED TO WORK IN CONCERT WITH THE GOVERNMENT.
J
3. FOLLOWING THIS LATEST TEST OF STRENGTH, THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAS RESOLVED TO PUT AN END TO BRITISH ILLUSIONS. ANY PROPOSAL
TO EXTEND BRITISH ADMINISTRATION WILL NOT BE ACCEPTABLE AND THE
RESUMED TALKS SHOULD CONCENTRATE ON THE RECOVERY OF SOVEREIGNTY
AND THE MAINTENANCE OF PROSPERITY AFTERWARDS, CONFRONTATION WILL
NOT BE IN THE INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG OR OF BRITAIN
SINCE BRITISH CONSORTIA IN HONG KONG WILL SUFFER. CHINESE CONTACTS
WITH HONG KONG PEOPLE HAVE UNCOVERED A COMMON WISH TO MAINTAIN PROSPERITY AFTER 1997 AND THE FORMULA OF HONG KONG PEOPLE TO
RULE HONG KONG HAS BEEN EVOLVED SPECIFICALLY TO MEET THIS
ASPIRATION. THE AUTHOR BELIEVES THAT HONG KONG PEOPLE CAN DO
A VERY GOOD JOB IN RUNNING THEIR OWN AFFAIRS. THE POLICIES
FOR RUNNING SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGIONS WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED
FOR A LONG TIME.
:
4. THE ARTICLE CONCLUDES BY SAYING THAT MANY TOP CHINESE EXPERTS
HAVE VISITED HONG KONG RECENTLY (EG MA HONG, QIAN JUNRUI, XU DIXIN,
HUAN XIANGAND GU NIANL (ANG). THE AUTHOR WONDERS IF THESE VISITS
ARE A PRELUDE TO EXPERTS FROM BOTH SIDES JOINING THE TALKS AND QUOTES
SOURCES AS SAYING THAT IF THE RESUMED TALKS ON SEPTEMBER 22ND
PROCEED SMOOTHLY, DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN EXPERTS WILL SOON FOLLOW.
230
SIGNED A.L. LANG
NNNN