TNAG-0849-FCO40-1059-Future-of-Hong-Kong-New-Territories-leases-1979 — Page 96

GRS 150

SECRET

SECRET

FM F C O 111715Z MAY 79

TO IMMEDIATE PEKING

TELEGRAM NUMBER 270 OF 11 MAY

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG.

Her ovoli RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO.

DESK INDEX

1 5 MAY 1979

CER

PA

REGIS Action T

no 1837

по

PERSONAL FROM MURRAY,

GS

89

YOUR TEL NO 423 AND HONG KONG TEL NO 566:

FUTURE OF HONG KONG.

H

1. WE AGREE THAT SONG'S REMARKS PROVIDE A USEFUL OPENING FOR A

FURTHER APPROACH ABOUT LAND LEASES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES. WE

ALSO AGREE GENERALLY WITH THE LINE SUGGESTED IN PARAGRAPH 3 OF

HONG KONG TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE. HOWEVER, WE WILL NEED TO OBTAIN MINISTERIAL AUTHORITY BEFORE SENDING YOU INSTRUCTIONS, AND THIS IS BOUND TO TAKE A LITTLE TIME. IF YOU HAVE COMMENTS

ON THE WORDING, COULD WE HAVE THESE OVER THE WEEKEND? N

2. WE HAVE NOT YET FORMED A VIEW ON WHICH OF THE COURSES SET OUT

IN PARAGRAPH 1 OF HONG KONG TEL NO 519 SHOULD BE ADOPTED. AS THE

GOVERNOR SUGGESTS, THE CHINESE REACTION TO THE APPROACH NOW ENVIS- AGED MAY PROVIDE A STEER. IN THE MEANTIME WE HOPE TO TELEGRAPH

COMMENTS ON THE TEXT IN HONG KONG TEL NO 547 EARLY NEXT WEEK.

CARRINGTON,

FILES

HKGD (6)

FED

PUSD

PS/SIRI GILMOUR

PSIMR BLAKER

PS/PUS

SIRA DUFF

MR CORTAZZI MR MURRAY

SECRET