Classification

CONFIDENTIAL

ZCZ C

CONFIDENTIAL

OUT TELEGRAM

Caveat

Precedence

IMMEDIATE

FM FCO

TO IMMEDIATE CANBERRA

TELNO

OF 21104OZ MAY 91

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, PEKING, WASHINGTON

MESSAGE TO THE AUSTRALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER

1. The following is the text of a personal message from me to the Australian Foreign Minister. Please arrange for it to be

delivered.

BEGINS

-

I know that you and your Government take a close interest and rightly so in the future of Hong Kong. Following your visit to China in April, and your talks with the Governor of Hong Kong at that time and again in Canberra earlier this month I would Like to tell you about the state of our relations with China over Hong Kong.

In the remaining years of British Administration in Hong Kong we will need to intensify our cooperation with China over Hong Kong, in order to bring about a smooth transition in 1997. This is stipulated in the Sino-British Joint Declaration. That agreement also stipulates that Britain will be responsible for the administration of Hong Kong until 30 June 1997.

mper

REXADQ/CC

Deot

HKD

cespaion by:

For CCD

use only

Catchword

Drafted by iBlock capitals!

AR PAUL

Telephone no

2647

Mie

Date/time

2211302

Comcen reference

Telegram number

Pented in the UK for HMSO 1.91 Da FCC3233 M 200 CCN 56294

Processed by

STOCK No.C037B YFB6

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