Mr Clift HKD
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22 DLL 1983
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Hong Kong: Briefing of Opposition Leaders
The Secretary of State saw Mr Denis Healey this afternoon and briefed him on Privy Councillor terms along the lines of the brief you submitted on 16 December.
The Secretary of State told me afterwards that
Mr Healey had said that he was well aware of the practical difficulties we faced in the negotiations. He saw no long term British interest in trying to hang on to Hong Kong. The prize of a 50 year extension of more or less the present arrangements was well worth trying for. He was not disposed to make difficulties for the Government on this issue, and made clear that he would only do so if we created obstacles by seeking to argue for the extension of British sovereignty beyond 1997. Mr Healey mentioned that he might be going to Peking next year, in which case he would find it useful to have a further briefing.
The Secretary of State intends to brief Messrs Steel and Owen along similar lines in the New Year.
20 December 1983
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PRicketts
(P F Ricketts)
Cc:
PS
PS/Mr Luce PS/PUS
Mr Donald
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Noted By.
Enter
12 Jan ti shine
ti Gwerner, Iis P Cradesh
11/12
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