From the Secretary of State
سا
Dar Rour
H.K.)
36
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London SW1A 2AH
18 October 1983
MICIC040/B
RECEIVED IN RACISTRY
1983
Or Takan
n
2 CM31119
(25)
Thank you for your letter of 4 October and for its enclosures about the future of Hong Kong.
As you know, the Unofficial members of Hong Kong's Executive Council were in London before the Party Conference, with the Governor and our Ambassador in Peking, so that we could discuss together the whole question of Hong Kong's future and ways in which further progress could be made in the talks, including the next session with the Chinese in
Peking on 19/20 October.
We are well aware of China's claim to sovereignty over Hong Kong, and indeed of her sensitivity about the territory's history. At the same time we have to take into
account our responsibility for the interests of Hong Kong.
Given the common aim of maintaining Hong Kong's stability and prosperity I believe that it is possible to reach a solution acceptable to the people of Hong Kong and to Parliament and to do so without damaging our good relations with the Chinese. We are certainly not at all inflexible in our
approach.
But, as you agreed with Richard Luce the other day, it
is important that nothing is said or done that might damage
confidence in Hong Kong further, or endanger the good
atmosphere in which our talks with the Chinese are taking
place. As we both appreciate, this calls for a good deal
Robert Adley Esq MP
/of