CONFIDENTIAL
PROBLEM. IT WAS THE INCLUSION OF THE REFERENCE TO HONG KONG WHICH CAUSED VERY GREAT DIFFICULTY FOR THE CHINESE. ZHOU SAID HE VERY MUCH HOPED THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WOULD USE ITS WELL-KNOWN
RESOURCESFULNES TO THINK OF ANOTHER FORMULA.
6. THE SECRETARY OF STATE STRESSED THAT WE HOPED THE CHINESE RESPONSE TO THESE PROBLEM WOULD SE CHARACTERISED BY THE SPIRIT OF COOPERATION WHICH HAD BEEN MENTIONED SO OFTEN IN PUBLIC AND IN PRIVATE OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS.
7. IN THE COURSE OF THE DISCUSSION ZHOU NAN REMINDED THE SECRETARY OF STATE THAT WU HAD EXPRESSED A STRONG WISH TO INVITE THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND HIS FAMILY TO PAY A PRIVATE VISIT TO CHINA AS HIS GUEST TO GO DOWN THE YANGTZE GORGES. ZHOU SIAD WU HAD ASKED HIM TO MAKE THIS POINT AGAIN BEFORE THE SECRETARY OF STATE LEFT. THE SECRETARY OF STATE SAID HE WOULD BE HAPPY TO ACCEPT IN PRINCIPLE BUT COULD GIVE NO COMMITMENT ON TIMING. ZHOU MAN SAID THAT THIS WAS PERFECTLY UNDERSTOOD.
YOUDE
52
HONG KONG AGREEMENT
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
HD/PLANNING STAFF
HD/PUSD
DEP HD/PUSD
RESEARCH DEPT (MR WALKER) PS
PS/MR LUCE
PS/PUS
SIR W HARD ING
MR WILSON
SIR J FREELAND
MR J CROWLEY, PUSE
COPIES TO:(VIA ADR)
MR ROBERTS, NEWS DEPT
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS MR BURROWS, LEGAL ADVISERS
MR MARTIN, ASST STAFF CABINET
OFFICE
MR CARTLEDGE, CABINET OFFICE MR COLVIN, CABINET OFFICE SIR P CRADOCK, NO 10 DOWNING ST
CONFIDENTIAL