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HKK 026/548/3
MR CORTAZZI'S VISIT TO WASHINGTON
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HONG KONG: THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT
Speaking Notes
1.
It may be that the Secretary of State's visit to Hong Kong and China during the course of his Far East tour in April/May will give rise to speculation that we wish to discuss the future of Hong Kong with the present Chinese Government. This is not so.
2.
As we see it, the future of Hong Kong will have to be discussed with the Chinese in due course. The termination of the New Territories Lease in 1997 will make this necessary. We also have to have regard to the Chinese attitude to all three treaties on Hong Kong which is, in essence, that they were "unequal" and that the "problem" will have eventually to be resolved. However, this is not, in our view, the time for discussing the question.
3.
China is at present satisfied with the status quo and, provided economic considerations continue to weigh heavily in Peking, we see no prospect of this attitude changing in the foreseeable future. We for our part do not feel that the future of the Colony can be discussed with the Chinese until a successor Government to that of Nao has emerged and established its authority throughout the country.
4. We cannot yet guess what view a future Chinese Government will take towards Hong Kong. And we see no advantage in ourselves
P considering possible scenarios until we can assess the character of the Government with whom we will have to deal.
5.
For these reasons, it is not our intention that the Secretary of State should raise the question of Hong Kong with the Chinese except, possibly, to say that we assume both sides are happy with the present status quo.
SECRET
16.
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