TNAG-0575-FCO40-708-Visits-of-Anthony-Crosland--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-a-1976 — Page 21

4PS 240०

CYPHER CATA

IMMEDIATA

FROM F C O 301423Z

SECRET

AIRY N

3 MAY 1976

SECRET

PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR

HKIL026/128/

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TELNO 311 OF 39 APRIL

PERSONAL FOR THE GOVERNOR FROM CORTAZZI

1. IN OUR BRIEF FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S STOP-OVER IN HONG KONG, WE HAVE PROPOSED THE FOLLOWING LINE TO TAKE:

QUOTE THE SECRETARY OF STATE MAY CARE TO EXPRESS HIS REGRET AT NOT BEING ABLE TO VISIT HONG KONG ON THIS OCCASION BUT THAT HE HAS SEEN SOMETHING OF THE COLONY DURING HIS VISIT IN DECEMBER LAST. HE HAS NO INTENTION OF RAISING THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG WITH THE CHINESE AND DOES NOT THINK THE TIME IS RIPE TO CONTEMPLATE ANY CHANGE IN THE EXISTING STATUS QUO VIS A VIS THE CHINESE. HE LOOKS FORWARD TO HAVING THE GOVERNOR'S ADVICE

ON HONG KONG MATTERS DURING THE LATTER'S NEXT VISIT TO LONDON.

UNQUOTE

2. IN THE BACKGROUND NOTE WE HAVE EXPLAINED THAT CONSIDERATION

IS BEING GIVEN TO A STRATEGY FOR HONG KONG COVERING ITS LONG-TERM FUTURE, ITS INTERNAL POLICIES IN THE KEDIUM TERM AND THE NEED TO PROMOTE A MORE ACTIVE INFORMATION POLICY. WE EXPLAINED

THAT THERE IS AGREEMENT ON THE NEED TO APPROACH THE CHINESE ABOUT THE FUTURE PROBABLY IN THE MID 19803 AND THAT NOTHING SHOULD

BE DONE MEANWHILE TO PREJUDICE OUR NEGOTIATING POSITION

EG BY AGREEING TO THE APPOINTMENT OF AN OFFICIAL CHINESE

REPRESENTATIVE IN HONG KONG. THERE IS ALSO AGREEMENT ON THE

DESTRABILITY OF A MORE ACTIVE 11.FORMATION POLICY ON WITH CH

YOU HAVE ALREADY GIVER THE LEAD. HOWEVER, CERTAIN ISSUES.

RELATING TO THE PROMOTION OF INTERNAL POLICIES STILL REMAIN

TO BE CLARIFIED AND YOU HAVE PROMISED FURTHER COMMENTS ON THIS,

SECRET

13. WE EXPLAIN

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