5. FINALLY THE AUSTRALIAN OF 31 JANUARY (AGAIN PAUL ELLERCAMP) STATES QUOTE AFTER THE TALKS DOTS AUSTRALIAN OFFICIALS REFUSED TO DIVULGE WHAT THE DELEGATION HAD TOLD THE PRIME MINISTER. IT IS UNDERSTOOD SIR EDWARD INDICATED TO MR HAWKE BRITAIN'S RESPONSE TO THE TWELVE POINT SET OF PROPOSALS MADE BY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT IN TALKS LATE LAST YEAR. THE REFUSAL TO DIVULGE EVEN THE SLIGHTEST DETAIL OF YESTERDAY'S TALKS REFLECTS THE SENSITIVITY WITH WHICH THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT IS APPROACHING HONG KONG'S FUTURE. UNQUOTE, THE ARTICLE GOES ON QUOTE, MR HAWKE IS UNDERSTOOD TO HAVE TREATED YESTERDAY'S TALKS LARGELY AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRIEF HIMSELF ON THE SINO-BRITAIN NEGOTIATIONS RATHER THAN A CHANCE TO PUSH ANY VIEWS HE MAY HAVE ABOUT THE SUBJECTS. IT IS ALSO UNDERSTOOD THE TALKS DID NOT INCLUDE THE POSSIBILITY OF AUSTRALIA DEVELOPING AS AN INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE A SUBJECT WHICH HAS BEEN RAISED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION LAST MONTH TO FLOAT THE AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR. UNQUOTE.
MASON
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
HD/PLANNING STAFF
HD/PUSD
D/HD/PUSD (MR FLOWER)
RES.D. (MR WALKER)
LEGAL ADVISER (SIR IAN SINCLAIR
PS
PS/LADY YOUNG
PS/MR LUCE
COPIES TO:
BUCKINGHAM PALACE
PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL
PS/HOME SECRETARY
PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER
PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL
PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE & INDUSTRY
COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)
MR ROBERTS
NEWS D
PS/PUS
SIR J BULLARD
SIR W HARDING
HR DONALD
MR WRIGHT
SIR C TICKELL
MR BURROWS LEGAL ADVS
MR COLES NO 10 DOWNING ST
MR MARTIN ASSESSMENT STAFF CABINET OFFICE
MR GOODALL CABINET OFFICE
MR BRENNAN CABINET OFFICE
PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE D
PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL
SIR P CRADOCK RM K196
BIR P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING STREET
2.