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PMVA (83) 11(b)
12 September 1983
- COPY NO 9
PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES
25-30 SEPTEMBER 1983
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
Brief by Foreign and Commonwealth Office
UK Objective
To take the Canadians, at a high level, into our confidence on the general position in our talks with the Chinese on the future of
Hong Kong.
Points to Make
(a) With Mr Trudeau
1.
(i)
Appreciate your interest in this sensitive subject. Helpful to give you, on confidential basis, resumé of
talks to date.
(ii)
Talks through diplomatic channels agreed last September, with common aim of maintaining Hong Kong's stability and prosperity.
(iii)
(iv)
Progress initially slow because Chinese insisted we firs recognise their sovereignty over whole of Hong Kong. Matters greatly improved by exchange of letters between me and Premier Zhao in March/April.
I explained sovereignty not in my gift. Parliament alon could decide. I stressed need for finding workable
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