TNAG-0370-FCO40-416-Visit-of-Edward-Heath--UK-Prime-Minister--to-Hong-Kong--12-1-1973 — Page 19

CONFIDENTIAL

49. Line to Take (in public): The Prime Minister will probably

wish to confine himself to confirming that the question was, or

was not, discussed in Feking. With Members of ExCo and LegCo

he may wish to give details of what was discussed with the

Chinese. If the subject was not discussed, he may wish to say

that we consider it unwise to raise it with Peking until we

have some indication of a probable favourable response. The

Chinese might link the question with that of an official

Representative.

Meanwhile we think the Hong Kong Government's

policy of unprovocatively nibbling at the problem by gradual

extension of their administration in the area of the city is

the best.

Forcign and Commonwealth Office

14 December 1973

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CONFIDENTIAL