SECRET DE DIP
4886 - 1
FROM THE CIVIL WAR) AND HONG KONG AS A PROBLEM OF FOREIGN
DOMINATION ON CHINESE SOIL. IF WAS NOT AN EASY POINT TO GET
ACROSS TO THE CHINESE ALTHOUGH IF THERE WERE A SUCCESSFUL SOLUTION OVER HONG KONG WHICH GAVE CONFIDENCE TO THE PEOPLE THERE,
IT MIGHT MAKE IT EASIER FOR THE CHINESE TO SECURE A SETTLEMENT
WITH TAIWAN.
9. WOLFOWITZ ASKED IF THERE WAS ANYTHING MORE THAT HMG WISHED THE UNITED STATES TO DO. DONALD SAID THAT AT PRESENT WE SIMPLY
WISHED TO KEEP OUR AMERICAN FRIENDS INFORMED. HOWEVER, MUCH FURTHER DOWN THE LINE A POINT MIGHT COME WHERE THE UNITED STATES
COULD BE HELPFUL IN EXPLAINING AN AGREED SOLUTION TO AMERICAN
INVESTORS OR IN REINFORCING TO THE CHINESE THE IMPORTANCE OF
MAKING A SETTLEMENT STICK. OUR THOUGHTS ON THIS WERE TENTATIVE
AND HE THOUGHT IT WAS PREMATURE TO SAY MORE AT PRESENT.
10.
WOLFOWITZ SAID THE US WAS DOING A REVIEW OF ITS INTERESTS IN HONG KONG AS PART OF THE BACKGROUND FOR THE PRESIDENT'S VISIT TO
CHINA. THE PURPOSE WAS SIMPLY TO SEE WHERE THE US HANDLING OF ITS RELATIONS WITH CHINA, FOR EXAMPLE ON TEXTILE MATTERS, MIGHT HAVE AN IMPACT ON OUR OWN NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE CHINESE. IT WAS NOT THAT THE AMERICANS THOUGHT THEY HAD MUCH SCOPE TO PLAY A MORE ACTIVE ROLE, AND IN THE EVENT THAT KNOWLDDGE OF THIS REVIEW BECAME PUBLIC, HE WOULD NOT WISH US TO BE ALARMED.
11.
THE AMERICANS EXPRESSED GRATITUDEFFOR THE BRIEFING AND AGREED
TO MAINTAIN CONFIDENTIALITY.
12. YOU AND HONG KONG WILL WISH TO KEEP YOUR LOCAL AMRICAN
CONTACTS INFORMED.
HOWE
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
LIMINMED
SD/SKO
ED/5
COPIES TO: (VIA DISTR. ROOM)
BUCKINGHAM PALACE
PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL
PS/HOME SECRETARY
PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER
PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL
PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND
HD/PLANNING STAFF
HD/PUSD
D/HD/PUSD(MR FLOWER)
RESEARCH DEPT(MR WALKER)
LEGAL ADVISER(SIR IAN SINCLAIR)
PS
PS/LADY YOUNG
PSAR LUCE
PS/PUS
SIR J BULLARD
MR GIFFARD
MR DONALD
MR WRIGHT
SIR C TICKELL
SECRET
INDUSTRY
COPIES TO:
(VIA ADR)
MR ROBERTS
NEWS DEPT
MR BURROWS LEGAL ADVISERS MR COLES NO 10 DOWNING ST SIR A PARSONS
MR MARTIN
#t
1
ASSESSMENT STAFF
CABINET OFFICE
MR GOODALL CABINET OFFICE MR BRENNAN
PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL
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