TNAG-0747-FCO40-951-Visits-of-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-officials-to-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 86

E (via C S)

CONFIDENTIAL

HKK 026)! Com NO.51 t

RECEIVER

+ A/

HKGD to ente

to return

copy

the M.

Cortazzi)

Of

Mr Cortazzi's meMAY197th UMELCO

Taken

I accompanied Mr Cortazzi to his meeting and lunch with UMELCO on 26 May. He asked te olet you have a brief account of what was said and of the atmosphere of the meeting.

2.

Mr Cortazzi started by saying a few words about how Hong Kong affairs were seen and dealt with in London. The main points he made vere:

3.

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

Those in London vere concerned above all to see a prosperous and stable Hong Kong continuing into the future.

Hong Kong had many friends in London.

There might

be critics as well, for instance in Parliament, but their number and influence should not be exaggerated.

He was anxious that there should be a continuing dialogue between London and Hong Kong. He hoped that this would always be conducted in a harmonious way. He welcomed a frank expression of views but hoped that it would always be possible to avoid confrontations, particularly in public.

He himself was part of a team of officials who worked together to give Ministers the best advice they could. The actual decisions were taken by Ministers.

The main subjects discussed during and before lunch were

as follows:

(a)

The relationship with China. Sir Y K Kan asked if Mr Cortazzi expected to discuss Hong Kong while in China. Mr Cortazzi replied that he did not expect the subject to be raised but had defensive briefing ready if necessary. This prompted Sir s Gordon to ask if it was not time for some positive action by HMG; people were becoming concerned about Hong Kong's longer term prosperity, the need for more specific assurances from Peking and therefore the need for attempts by HMG to obtain them. Mr Cortazzi said that he could understand that the long-term future of Hong Kong was a matter of intense concern. His own view (in which I supported him) was that the time was not yet ripe for any formal approaches to the Chinese. He also thought it was an issue which should not be aired publicly in the press. During the discussion it was clear that the majority of UMELCO (including

/contd..

CONFIDENTIAL

7/7