Mr Donald
Private Secretary
Mr. Giffard PS/Mr. Luce
SECRET
See muintes above
From: R D Clift
Hong Kong Department
Date: 4 November 1983
CC:
PS/Mr Luce
PS/PUS
Mr Giffard
Mr Elliott, FED
Mr Wye, Research Dept
Planning Staff
FUTURE OF HONG KONG : EXCHANGES WITH THE JAPANESE
PROBLEM
Would there be advantage in taking the Japanese more fully into our confidence over the future of Hong Kong?
1.
RECOMMENDATION
2. I recommend that the Private Secretary write to Number 10
Downing Street on the lines of the attached draft, seeking the Prime
Minister's agreement that the Japanese should be a little more fully
briefed. FED agree.
BACKGROUND
•
At present we have taken only the Americans and the old Commonwealth countries into our confidence on this subject. On the
Prime Minister's instructions the Americans have been kept fully in the picture, the Australians, Canadians and New Zealanders rather
less so.
4.
For the reasons set out in the attached draft, there would be advantage in adding the Japanese to the list. Japanese officials in Tokyo have already volunteered to our Embassy information on exchanges with the Chinese which have cast an interesting light on Chinese perceptions of the problem. Mr Elliott found on his tour of Far Eastern capitals that the Japanese were willing to talk about China with specific reference to Hong Kong without asking any embarrassing questions. He saw a clear case for continuing to tap
SECRET