CONFIDENTIAL
MKK040/1.
TRED IS RAG &
-9 APR 1064
GRS 784
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO 021400Z APR 84
TO IMMEDIATE CERTAIN MISSIONS AND DEPENDENT TERRITORIES
TELEGRAM NUMBER GUIDANCE 30 OF 2 APR
10236
obaly
2
GUIDANCE
TEL 30
3 APRIL ļ
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FUTURE OF HONG KONG
1. THIS GUIDANCE SUPPLEMENTS MATERIAL IN OUR GUIDANCE TELNOS 153
OF 18 NOVEMBER 1983, 083 OF 8 JULY 1983 AND 192 OF 20 OCTOBER
1982.
2. YOU SHOULD CONTINUE TO AVOID BEING DRAWN INTO SPECULATION
ABOUT HONG KONG'S FUTURE OR THE POSSIBLE OUTCOME OF TALKS. THIS
GUIDANCE PROVIDES A LINE TO TAKE IF THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE
SECRETARY OF STATE'S FORTHCOMING VISIT TO CHINA AND HONG KONG
MAKES IT NECESSARY FOR YOU TO RESPOND TO QUESTIONS.
LINE TO TAKE
3. ELEVEN ROUNDS HAVE NOW BEEN HELD IN THE SECOND PHASE OF TALKS
BETWEEN THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS ON THE FUTURE OF HONG
KONG.
THE TWELFTH ROUND WILL BE HELD ON 11/12 APRIL. THE BRITISH
SIDE IS NOW BEING LED BY OUR NEW AMBASSADOR TO PEKING, SIR RICHARD
EVANS, AND THE CHINESE SIDE BY ASSISTANT FOREIGN MINISTER, ZHOU NAN. SUCCESSIVE COMMUNIQUES HAVE DESCRIBED THE TALKS AS USEFUL AND
CONSTRUCTIVE. BOTH SIDES AGREE THAT PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE.
4.
BY COMMON AGREEMENT THE CONTENT OF THE TALKS IS CONFIDENTIAL.
FUTURE ARRANGEMENTS FOR HONG KONG MUST BE WORKED OUT CAREFULLY
AND RESPONSIBLY. WE CONSIDER THAT THE CONFERENCE TABLE IS THE
PLACE FOR AN EXCHANGE OF VIEWS.
5. THE VIEWS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG CONTINUE TO BE FULLY
TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN THE TALKS. THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG IS
PARTICIPATING IN THE TALKS ON THE BRITISH SIDE. THE VIEWS OF THE
PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ARE MADE KNOWN TO US AT MANY LEVELS AND THROUGH MANY CHANNELS, OFFICIAL AND UNOFFICIAL; FORMAL AND INFORMAL. THE MINISTER OF STATE, MR RICHARD LUCE, VISITED HONG KONG FROM 25-28 FEBRUARY AND HAD USEFUL DISCUSSIONS WITH A WIDE
RANGE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF HONG KONG OPINION. THE GOVERNOR AND
see
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CONFIDENTIAL