GAS250
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENMA
FM HONG KONG 27094OZ FEB 84
TO PRIORITY FCO
TOP COPY
TELEGRAM NUMBER 528 OF 27 FEBRUARY
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON-BRUSSELS,
UKMIS GENEVA, WASHINGTON, CG NEW YORK
FOR HONG KONG GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES
HKG/GT/48: FUTURE OF HONG KONG
4KK040
2:
MD 1.
- 1904
*NDEX.
1. FOLLOWING THE CONCLUSION OF THE NINTH ROUND OF TALKS IN PEKING ON 23 FEBRUARY, THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT AS ISSUED SIMULTANEOUSLY BY THE BRITISH EMBASSY IN PEKING AND THE NONA.
**THE CHINESE AND BRITISH SIDES CONTINUED THEIR USEFUL AND
CONSTRUCTIVE TALKS ON THE HONG KONG QUESTION ON 22 AND 23
FEBRUARY IN PEKING. IT WAS AGREED THAT THE TENTH ROUND OF TALKS
WOULD TAKE PLACE ON 16 AND 17 MARCH IN PEKING.''
BACKGROUND
2. SENIOR CHINESE OFFICIALS HAVE MADE A NUMBER OF STATEMENTS
RECENTLY INDICATING THAT THEY HOPED FOR AN AGREEMENT BY JULY.
THEY ALSO SUGGESTED THAT THE TALKS WOULD BE SPEEDED UP. HMG'S
POSITION REMAINS THAT NO OVERALL TIMETABLE HAS BEEN AGREED. A
SATISFACTORY SOLUTION IS PREFERABLE TO A RUSHED ONE.
LINE TO TAKE
3. IF YOU ARE ASKED TO COMMENT ON THE SHORTER INTERVAL BETWEEN
THE NINTH AND TENTH ROUNDS, YOU MAY DRAW ON THE ABOVE BACKGROUND
MATERIAL. YOU SHAOULD ALSO SAY THAT THE TIMING OF EACH ROUND OF
TALKS IS DETERMINED BY MANY FACTORS INCLUDING THE OTHER COMMITMENTS
OF THE NEGOTIATORS. THE TWO SIDES WILL MEET AS OFTEN AS
PRACTICABLE AND NECESSARY.
YOUDE
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
LH:MMEND
FED
D/PLANNING STAFF
/PUSD
D/ED/PUSD (MR FLOWER)
PES.B. (MR WALKER)
LEGAL ADVISER (SIR IAN SINCLAIR
PS
PS/LADY YOUNG
PS/MER LUCE
PS/PUS
STR J BULLARD
SIR W HARDING
ER DONALD
KR WRIGHT
SIR C TICKELT,
COPIES TO:
BUCKINGHAM PALACE
PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL PS/HOME SECRETARY
PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER
PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL
PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE & INDUSTRY
COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)
MR ROBERTS NEWS D
HR BURROWS
LEGAL ADVS
MR COLES NO 10 DOWNING ST
MR. MARIMIN ASSESSMENT STAFF CABINET OFFICE
MR GOODALL
CABINET OFFICE
MR BRENNAN CABINET OFFICE
PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE D PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL
SIR P CRADOCK EM KĪGS
BIR P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING STREET
CONFIDEN HAL
135