TNAG-0850-FCO40-1060-Future-of-Hong-Kong-New-Territories-leases-1979 — Page 55

SECRET

Final besion

now approved by our Blaker.

now amended

Phwells

t10.

THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HER BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT

NMV (79)11

16 October 1979

1

COPY NO

VISIT OF PREMIER HUA GUOFENG OF CHINA

28 OCTOBER-3 NOVEMBER 1979

HONG KONG

Brief by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

POINTS TO MAKE (PRIME MINISTER/HUA GUOFENG)

HONG KONG/CHINA RELATIONS

This

1. Pleased that relations over Hong Kong are so good.

refleets the excellent state of Sino/British relations generally.

It also reflects the strong mutual interest in the stability and

prosperity of Hong Kong. As the Governor has emphasised,

Hong Kong is ready to play a constructive role in China's

modernisation programme, both in the neighbouring province of

Guangdong and more generally. Glad that this has been welcomed-

on the Chinese side.

2.

There are, however, one or two outstanding problems, in

particular immigration from China, and property leases in the

the New Territories of Hong Kong. It is in Chinese interest as well

as that of Britain and Hong Kong that they should be resolved.

7 Suggest that they be pursued between the Secretary of State

and the Chinese Foreign Minister.

POINTS TO MAKE (SECRETARY OF STATE/CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER

IMMIGRATION FROM CHINA

3.

The most immediate problem relates to immigration from

China into Hong Kong. We understand the difficulites on the

SEGRET

/Chinese