CONFIDENTIAL
F
Office of the United Kingdom Permanent Representative
to the European Communities
Rond-Point Robert Schuman 6
(478)
C27110
de hist
Ps. O
осл
Your reference
25/10
25
October 1983
1040 Brussels
Telephone 230 62 05
M. Thierry Stoll
Cabinet of President Thorn
Commission of the European Communities
Rue de la Loi 200
1040 Brussels
Our reference
Date
Dear M. Stoll,
HKK 040/5
RECEIVED IN NEGISTRY
1983
INDEX
M. THORN'S VISIT TO CHINA AND HONG KONG
STRY
Action Taker
I am pleased to attach background briefing on Hong Kong on the lines that you have requested.
M. Thorn may come under some pressure from the media in China and Hong Kong to comment on Hong Kong's future. My authorities have therefore asked me to underline the particular importance which the United Kingdom attaches to maintaining confidence in Hong Kong's future and of avoiding any comments which would in any way undermine this.
If the Chinese authorities raise the subject of Hong Kong M. Thorn may care to make the general point on behalf of the European Community that Hong Kong is an important part of the international trading system and that all its trading partners including the European Community attach importance to the preservation of these links. He will however wish to avoid making any comment on the talks between the United Kingdom and the People's Republic.
Yours sincerely, Peter Lougheads
P LOUGHEAD
b.cc:
My Morris (HKD) —
CONFIDENTIAL