HKK 040/5
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
2 1 JUN 1983
DESK OF FISEK
INDEX
HIS
Foreign and Commonwealth
London SW1A 2AH
20 June 1983
PA
nion Token%
copied to HICK 026/8
कीड
Draft amended by thHomes after dich with
me)
21/6
Future of Hong Kong:
Briefing the Australians
As you are aware, we have been keeping the Americans up-to-date on the future of Hong Kong
The Australians
however have been given more limited briefing
although our High
Commissioner in Canberra was authorised to bring Mr Hayden and the Australian Prime Minister a little more fully into the picture before Premier Zhao visited Australia in April (your letter of 30 March).
The Australians continue to have a considerable interest in Hong Kong's future because of their significant investments there, the growing importance of their relation- ship with China and their interest in stability in the area.
Mr Hayden, the Australian Foreign Minister, is passing through Hong Kong from 3 to 5 July as part of a wider Asian tour. His primary purpose is to discuss regional economic issues with local bankers and businessmen, but he also apparently wants to get a personal feel for Hong Kong's future prospects. The Governor has offered to see Mr Hayden and to give him lunch.
In the context of this visit, it would in our view be useful to bring the Australians up to date, on the political net, on how far we have got in our contacts with the Chinese, in particular the most recent moves towards opening substantive talks (we would, as before, not go into details of the Prime Minister's talks with the Chinese). A briefing in Canberra before Mr Hayden leaves would be the easiest way to do this.
/I would
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