PP OTTAWA GRS 372
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SECRET
517)
And/ TOP COPY(+3)
HARD
HKK0405
DEDI SECRET
RECEIVED IN KOTISTRY
/ NOV 1983
JEFIC?
INDEX
29739-
CHIST
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FM FCO 041400Z NOV 83
TO PRIORITY OTTAWA (PERSONAL FOR HIGH COMMISSIONER) TELEGRAM NUMBER 387 OF 04 NOVEMBER 1983
AND TO WELLINGTON (PERSONAL FOR HIGH COMMISSIONER} INFO ROUTINE PEKING (PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR), ROUTINE HONG KONG FUTURE OF HONG KONG: BRIEFING OF CANADIANS/NEW ZEALANDERS
1. FOLLOWING PRIME MINISTER'S DISCUSSION WITH MR TRUDEAU ON 26 SEPTEMBER AND MR WHITNEY'S WITH TEMPLETON/NORRISH 27/28 SEPTEMBER, IT WOULD NOW BE TIMELY TO UPDATE BRIEFING ON THIS SUBJECT, IN CONFIDENCE, AT AN APPROPRIATELY SENIOR LEVEL, BEFORE NEXT ROUND OF SINO-BRITISH TALKS ON 14/15 NOVEMBER.
YOU COULD SPEAK TO YOUR COLLEAGUES ALONG THE FOLLOWING
2.
LINES.
AND
3. THE ATMOSPHERE AT THE FIFTH ROUND IN THE SECOND PHASE OF TALKS (19/20 OCTOBER) WAS SUBSTANTIALLY WARMER THAN IN THE PREVIOUS ROUNDS, ALTHOUGH THE CHINESE OPENING STATEMENT CONTINUED TO EMPHASISE THE CHINESE PREMISE OF SOVEREIGNTY/ADMINISTRATIVE
RIGHT.
4. HOWEVER OUR NEGOTIATORS WERE ABLE TO HAMMER HOME TO THE CHINESE THAT WE WERE INTERESTED IN MAKING PRACTICAL PROGRESS AND
THE TALKS MADE HEADWAY. THE CHINESE AGREED THAT THEY SHOULD BE
DESCRIBED IN THE JOINT COMMUNIQUE OF 20 OCTOBER AS 'USEFUL AND
CONSTRUCTIVE'. WE PROPOSED THAT ON THE BASIS OF THE CHINESE
PROPOSALS BUT WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO OUR OWN POSITION, WE SHOULD EXAMINE WHETHER ARRANGEMENTS COULD BE DEVISED WHICH WOULD ENSURE
THE MAINTENANCE OF STABILITY AND PROSPERITY. WE EXPLAINED THE
CONSTITUTIONAL CONSTRAINTS WITHIN WHICH HMG MUST OPERATE, BUT SAID THAT IF (AND ONLY IF) SATISFACTORY ARRANGEMENTS COULD BE AGREED HMG WOULD BE PREPARED TO RECOMMEND TO PARLIAMENT AN
AGREEMENT ON THOSE LINES.
5. THE CHINESE APPEARED TO UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS. HMA PEKING'S ASSESSMENT IS THAT ON THIS BASIS WE NOW HAVE A
See (518)
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