SECRET
Ministe dù
нко
Tualy
PS/Mr Rifkind
FUTURE OF HONG KONG :
私
71
FROM:
CO HUM
DATE: 11 January 1984
CC. Mr Clift
CHINESE STATEMENTS
1. You told me that Mr Rifkind had expressed interest in recent Chinese statements on the future of Hong Kong and wondered whether he should refer to them in Cabinet tomorrow.
2.
The most prominent Chinese statement in recent days was made on 10 January by Xu Jiatun, the Director of the New China News Agency (and hence the senior representative of Peking) in Hong Kong. The speech and local reactions to it were in Hong Kong telno 72 (attached).
3.
two
summarised
nuances
Xu's speech was an authoritative and comprehensive statement on China's policy on the future of Hong Kong, but appears to have contained few if any elements which were new. Virtually all the points have been made public (either directly or indirectly) by Chinese spokesmen before. One or (for example on the status of expatriate civil servants and the responsibility of the local Government for the maintenance of law and order) could be of interest: but it is difficult to be certain until we have studied the full text. We have asked Hong Kong for а text and their comments.
4.
I do not think it is necessary for Mr Rifkind to refer to the speech in Cabinet tomorrow. The Cabinet Sub-Committee which deals exclusively with the future of Hong Kong ((OD(K), chaired by the Prime Minister) is meeting this afternoon. The Prime Minister, the Secretary of State and Mr Luce will be involved in a series of meetings with the Governor of Hong Kong and the Unofficial members of Hong Kong's Executive between 13 and 17 January.
Council
11 January 1984
HKCK 045
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
17 JAN 1984
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
W
REGISTRY
Action Taken
CM17/2
SECRET
сбит
CO Hum
Hong Kong Department
18)