1.
Mr Thomson
267
CODF 18-77
SECRET
HKK 0405
SK.
1033
Reference
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293
pr. 04015
FUTURE OF HONG KONG:
1.
5.
ANDORRA
SEDA KSJ
Thank you for marking to me a copy of Mr Clift's letter of 26 August to Mr Galsworthy.
2. Bearing in mind some recent Chinese comment (eg Ta Kung Pao), I wonder whether a possible explanation of Chinese interest in Andorra is that they perceive our approach to the Hong Kong negotiations to be one of steady retreat through a series of options, including:
Option 1: maintain the status quo, ie extend the lease.
Option 2:
trade titular sovereignty for practical administration, ie a Macao-style solution.
Option 3: joint UK/China sovereignty or joint UK/China
administration, ie an Andorra-style solution?.
If this is right the Chinese may be seeking to arm themselves in advance with information which will enable them to spike our guns if and when we raise Option 3.
3. This is of course wholly speculative. But if right it would be useful to know whether the Chinese see our Option 4 as capitulation to their terms or whether they expect us to deploy further intermediate options.
2 September 1983
Mox.
N J Cox
Far Eastern Dept
2.
cc: Mr Morris, HKD
Mr Walker Research Dept
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many goodie's
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