KKK S6D/2.6
BRIEFING FOR CONSERVATIVE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTER ON 1 NOVEMBER
1983
THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG
POINTS TO MAKE
✓ 1.
Stress confidentiality.
THIS IS A COPY THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR YEARS UNDER FOI EXEMPTION No. 270)
2. Recall Prime Minister's visit to Peking September 1982. Agreement on meetings through diplomatic channels. Common aim of maintaining Hong Kong's stability and prosperity. HMG aims to seek
settlement acceptable to Parliament, China and Hong Kong.
3. Progress initially slow. Chinese insisted we first recognise their premise of sovereignty over whole of Hong Kong.
A.
Prime Minister gave nothing away. Parliament alone can decide
on final outcome of negotiations. Need for finding workable
arrangements after 1997 acceptable to Parliament, China and Hong
Main objective to retain Hong Kong's freedom and way of life.
Kong.
We are not inflexible on ways of achieving this.
5. Second, more detailed, phase of talks began 12/13 July.
meetings in second phase. Latest 19/20 October, Next, 14/15
November.
6.
Five
British delegation led by HMA Peking. Chinese delegation led by Vice Foreign Minister Yao Guang. Governor of Hong Kong participating as appropriate on British side. Has attended all
sessions to date.
7.
Atmosphere generally friendly though Chinese tough on substance.
They demand sovereignty and maintain sovereignty/administration indivisible. Have also spelt out plan for Hong Kong as Special
CONFIDENTIAL
/Administrative