TNAG-0847-FCO40-1057-Visits-of-Sir-Murray-MacLehose--Governor-of-Hong-Kong--to-th-1979 — Page 8

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Mr Quantrill

Mr Clift

Mr Williams Switianum s

Quaptrill

www.

28.17

28.12.

Reference

HEKOZGTH.

RECEIVED IN STAMERY NO. ST

JAN 090

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

Mo | HW 5/1.

( ૪

4

57

A:

B

C

SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE'S TALKS IN THE OFFICE: 9-11 JANUARY 1980

1.

I attach a draft brief on the New Territories Leases for Sir Murray's call on the Secretary of State at 1500 on 10 January 1980.

2.

The brief suggests that we have identified and fully explained the problem to the Chinese and that, whilst we should continue to reiterate our concern, the next positive move should come from the Chinese.

3.

Paragraph 3 (Points to Make) and Paragraph 6 (Essential Facts) draw on reports of conversations between the Governor and Wang Kuang on 1 November (Mr Quantrill's minute of 14 November) and between the Acting Governor, Xi Zhongzun and Wang Kuang on 7 December (Dr Wilson's letter of 13 December). These support the argument that we should not be thinking of taking any new initiative on the leases problem in the immediate future.

4.

HM Ambassador, Peking, is perhaps advocating a slightly different approach in Peking telegram No 987. He does not suggest a new initiative to the Chinese but argues that "we should also begin ourselves to think of other ways of solving the problem in cooperation with the Chinese".

Phub.

27 December 1979

PI Webb

Draft adapted, to make background freef for Noblaker

W. Chantall 411

CODE 18-77

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