TNAG-0850-FCO40-1060-Future-of-Hong-Kong-New-Territories-leases-1979 — Page 46

Mr McLaren HH GA

Thank

کدکه

D5X8

SECRET

DARE.

Mr Cor

Cortazzi

P.S. Mr

Bicker 4

16/19. HER OLD/1 16/10

17 OCT 1979

340.51

all

H

PREMIER HUA'S VISIT TO LONDON : HONG KONG

Problem

No

PWW 17/10.

A,

218

1. To decide how Hong Kong issues, particularly the

question of land leases in the New Territories, should be

handled during discussions with Premier Hua Guofeng and

the Chinese Foreign Minister.

Recommendation

2.

See

235

I recommend that Ministers should take the line set

out in the attached brief. I also recommend that immigration

and New Territories leases should be discussed between the

Secretary of State and Foreign Minister Huang Hua rather than

in the plenary sessions. FED agree.

Background"

3. The Chinese rejected our proposed solution to the problem

of the property leases in the New Territories on 24 September;

the Secretary of State reported this development to the Prime

Minister and other OD colleagues on 9 October.

4. The Governor of Hong Kong and HM Ambassador in Peking

both recommend that the question should be raised during

Premier Hua's visit and both think it more suitable for discussion

at Foreign Minister rather than Prime Minister level (Peking

C

telegram No 864 and Hong Kong telegram No 1402). There is a

slight difference of view between the Ambassador and the

Governor on how the issue should be handled. Mr Cradock believes

SECRET

/that