SECRET
THE PRIME MINISTER
10 DOWNING STREET
1 November 1983
Then Preine.
I was grateful for your message passed to me by your
High Commissioner on 21 October. And thank you for your
kind words about my visit to Canada. I greatly enjoyed my
stay and found our discussions most valuable.
As you
I was interested by Chinese Foreign Minister
Wu Xueqian's recent comments to you about Hong Kong.
suggest, they broadly reflect what we know already of China's
plan for Hong Kong as a Special Administrative Region of China.
There are, however, one or two interesting differences of
emphasis which further underline our belief that the Chinese
have not fully thought through their plan.
The latest round of Sino-British talks on Hong Kong,
which took place on 19/20 October, was an encouraging one.
Confidence in Hong Kong was strengthened by the joint statement
which described the round as useful and constructive. The next
session will be held on 14 and 15 November, again in Peking.
SECRET
/I believe