TNAG-0851-FCO40-1061-Future-of-Hong-Kong-New-Territories-leases-1979 — Page 65

THE PRIME MINISTER

DIEU

10 DOWNING STREET

Аккона!!!

21 YEARVEY NO. 5 13 NOV 1979

RESISTE

ниво

271

.

но разо

WWilliamson J...

D 137..

9 November 1979

"Miss licki' RIrie 13/11

2.

PA.

Что?

Thank you for your letter of 29 October about the interest

shown in Hong Kong in the Far Eastern Economic Review article

suggesting that I should raise the question of Hong Kong's future

during the Chinese Prime Minister's visit to London.

It is understandable that people in Hong Kong should be wondering whether the time has yet come for us to start discussions

with the Chinese authorities over the territory's future. The

Chinese Government, however, have made it clear on more than one occasion that they believe it is still too soon to consider Hong

Kong's future in any detail. This was clearly implied by the

Chinese Foreign Minister during his press conference here in London

last Friday.

At the same time, the Chinese authorities are aware of the

need to reassure investors that their interest will be fully taken

into account when the time does come to consider Hong Kong's future.

They have made a number of statements to this effect this year, and

Premier Hua Guofeng touched on the subject during our discussions last week. The important thing at this stage is that Britain and

China have a mutual interest in maintaining Hong Kong's current

prosperity and stability.

Chris Patten, Esq., M.P.

(SIGNED)

M2