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Hkk.oup/1.
RESSIPLA
NO. 31
(119)
Mr Cortazz
cortarri
BRITISH POLICY TOWARDS HONG KONG
IN THE 198big
PA
Acton Taken
1. I showed you a first outline draft for this paper shortly before your departure for the Pacific. A revised draft, taking account of your comments was discussed at a meeting chaired by Mr Murray on 21 September and attended by the Political Adviser in Hong Kong (then on leave) as well as Mr Samuel and myself. I now attach a further revised outline on lines agreed at that meeting.
2. We had some difficulty in devising a conceptual framework which would enable the 1997 question and measures to promote further political and social progress in Hong Kong to be dealt with in the same paper. The solution we adopted was to draw a distinction between those problems which it will be essential to tackle if Hong Kong is to remain viable after the mid/late 1980's, and measures, very broadly defined, which any British Government is likely to wish to promote.
3. We agreed that the most difficult, and in many ways the most important questions were those concerning timing and tactics. We thought these could either be dealt with in a separate part of the main paper (? an Annex) or in a separate paper. Mr Murray took the view that we should not start drafting on timing and tactics until the main body of the paper had been completed.
4. I should be grateful for any comments you may have on the outline as it has now emerged. Once we have your agreement this Department will produce a first draft in consultation with FED and send it to Peking and Hong Kong for comments. In the mean- time correspondence with the Governor of Hong Kong on the specific problem of New Territories leases is continuing.
Ruangwen
2 November 1978
Cc:
Mr Samuel, FED
Now see dont muute from Mr Corrazzi w
PG/PU3
SECRET
RJT McLaren
Hong Kong and General Department
Mr Mehaven
We spicke
the
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