SECRET
FROM PERSUADED OF OUR GOOD INTENTIONS AND BELIEVES THAT WE
ARE CONTINUING OUR QUEST FOR BRITISH ADMINISTRATION THROUGH
DEVIOUS MACHINATIONS. IT CONTAINS NO RECOGNITION OF THE GREAT
EFFORTS WE HAVE MADE TO MEET CHINESE VIEWS ON SOVEREIGNTY
AND ADMINISTRATION.
4. DENG'S COMMENTS THAT OF THE SITUATION DEMANDED IT THE
CHINESE SIDE WOULD RECONSIDER THE MANNER OF ADMINISTERING
HONG KONG (PARA 5 OF THE RECORD) IS, ON THE SURFACE, A WORRYING DEPARTURE FROM EARLIER STATEMENTS. BUT THE FRENCH TEXT SUGGESTS
THAT THORN MAY HAVE GOT DENG'S COMMENTS WRONG ON PAPER AND
THAT WHAT DENG MEANT WAS THAT THE CHINESE SIDE WAS LEAVING
ITSELF OPEN THE OPTION TO RECOVER SOVEREIGNTY OVER HONG KONG
EARLIER THAN IN 1997 SHOULD CIRCUMSTANCES DEMAND THIS.
CRADOCK
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
LIMINAND
COPIES TO: (VIA DISTR. ROOM)
SIR PHILIP MOORE BUCKINGHAM PALACE PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL
SD/FED
ED/PLANNING STAFF
ED/PUSD
D/ED/PUSD(MR FLOWER)
RESEARCH DEPT(MR WALKER)
LEGAL ADVISER (SIR IAN SINCLAIR)
PS
PS/LADY YOUNG
PS/R LUCE
PS/PUS
SIR J BULLARD
MR GIFFARD
MR DONALD
MR WRIGHT
2
SEORET
PS/HOME SECRETARY
PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER
PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL
PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND
INDUSTRY
COPIES TO:
(VIA ADR)
NEWS DEPT
MR ROBERTS
ME BURROWS LEGAL ADVISERS
MR COLES NO 10 DOWNING ST
SIR A PARSONS
MR MARTIN
HR GOODALL
MR
BRENNAN
體
ASSESSMENT STAFF CABINET OFFICE CABINET OFFICE
+
PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL
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