CONFIDENTIAL
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FOLLOWING THE VISIT WITH THE COMMON AIM OF MAINTAINING THE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG.'
IN SUBSEQUENT PRESS CONFERENCES AND INTERVIEWS IN PEKING AND IN HONG KONG, THE PRIME MINISTER MADE IT CLEAR THAT (A) THE TALKS WOULD BE CONFIDENTIAL, (B) BRITAIN TAKES ITS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG VERY SERIOUSLY, (C) THE VIEWS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WILL BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT, (D) THE TREATIES RELATED TO HONG KONG COULD BE 'VARIED' BY AGREEMENT AFTER DISCUSSION, BUT NOT ABROGATED UNILATERALLY.
5. SUBSEQUENT ACTION. MEETINGS WITH CHINESE STARTED IN PEKING IN THE WREK AFTER THE PRIME MINISTER'S RETURN TO THE UK. SINCE THE VISIT THE CHINESE HAVE ISSUED A NUMBER OF STATEMENTS EITHER ON THE RECORD OR INDIRECTLY IN ANSWER TO PRESS QUESTIONING IN WHICH THEY HAVE TAKEN A HARD LINE ON A NUMBER OF POINTS, INCLUDING A FIRM REITERATION OF THEIR WELL KNOWN SOVEREIGNTY AND CONTESTING THE PRIME MINISTER'S STATEMENT THAT THE EXISTING TREATIES ARE VALID.
ONLY FOR USE IF PRESSED
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6. IF PRESSED ABOUT THE NATURE OF THE TALKS YOU MAY SAY THAT MEETINGS IN PEKING TO FOLLOW UP THE PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT HAVE BEGUN THROUGH DIPLOMATIC CHANNELS. AS WAS MADE CLEAR BY THE PRIME MINISTER IN HER PRESS CONFERENCES IN PEKING AND HONG KONG, THE CONTENT MUST REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL. NO TIMETABLE HAS BEEN SET. A SOLUTION SHOULD BE SOUGHT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, BUT WILL NEED TIME TO NEGOTIATE. THE EXTENT AND LEVEL OF HONG KONG'S PARTICIPATION ON THE BRITISH SIDE WILL BE DECIDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE TALKS. THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG WILL BE CONSULTED THROUGHOUT AND WILL PARTICIPATE AS AND WHEN NECESSARY. IF YOU ARE PRESSED ON THE CHINESE STATEMENTS MENTIONED IN PARAGRAPH 5 ABOVE, YOU SHOULD EMPHASISE THAT THE AGREEMENT WITH THE CHINESE LEADERS WAS FOR TALKS AIMED AT THE MAINTENANCE OF STABILITY AND PROSPERITY IN HONG KONG. TO HELP THAT, THE RIGHT COURSE IS TO PRESERVE CONFIDENTIALITY IN THE DISCUSSIONS. WE DO NOT WISH TO NEGOTIATE THROUGH THE PRESS AND DO NOT REGARD THE OUTCOME OF THE TALKS AS PREJUDGED BY ANYTHING THAT IS SAID OUTSIDE.
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CONFIDENTIAL