TNAG-0851-FCO40-1061-Future-of-Hong-Kong-New-Territories-leases-1979 — Page 148

GR? 275

SECRET

HONG KONG 240910Z OCT 79

SECRET

237

HKLs ovell

RECEIVED IN REUINTR / NO. 11

TO IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TELNO.1485 OF 24 OCTOBER.

235

1.

2 5 OCT 1979

DESK OFFICER

INDEK

по

FOR MCLAREN, HK GD, FROM POLITICAL ADVISER.

RE STRY Action Taken

1826.10 Sey

Ben (243

YOUR LETTER OF 18 OCTOBER : BRIEF ON H.K FOR HUA'S VISIT.

MANY THANKS FOR SENDING US THE BRIEF FOR THE PRIME MINISTER. 1- HAVE SHOWN IT TO THE GOVERNOR.

2. I AM GLAD YOU HAVE GOT AGREEMENT FOR THE CAUTIOUS LINE ON

LEASES RECOMMENDED IN HONG KONG TEL NO.1402.

3.

ALTHOUGH WE HAD ORIGINALLY SUGGESTED THAT THE LEASES ISSUE SHOULD BE TACKLED ONLY AT SECRETARY OF STATE LEVEL, WE HAVE NO MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE LINE SUGGESTED FOR THE PRIME MINISTER. HOWEVER,

IT WOULD, I SUGGEST, BE WORTH EMPHASISING BOTH IN THE ''POINTS TO MAKE'' AND THE BACKGROUND THAT THE ACTION WE PROPOSED

ON LEASES WAS TO DEAL WITH A SHORT-TERM PROBLEM WITHOUT PREJUDGING LONG-TERM ISSUES. IF IT IS STILL POSSIBLE TO ALTER THE BRIEF, THIS COULD BE COVERED BY:

4.

(1) ADDING AND SHORT-TERM'' BEFORE PROBLEM** IN THE LAST

SENTENCE OF PARA.3, AND

(11) ADDING WITHOUT PREJUDGING THE LONG-TERM FUTURE OF THE COLONY'' BEFORE 'LEGAL STEPS'' IN THE SECOND SENTENCE

OF PARA.9.

IF IT IS TOO LATE TO ALTER THE ACTUAL BRIEF, PERHAPS THESE POINTS COULD BE MADE ORALLY TO THE PRIME MINISTER BEFORE THE MEETING

5. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF WE COULD SEE BY TELEGRAM THE KEY PARTS OF THE S OF S'S MORE DETAILED BRIEF. WE WILL SEND THE UP-DATED IMMIGRATION FIGURES TO REACH YOU BY FIRST THING TOMORROW.

MACLEHOSE

FILES HK vGD

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