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Mr Marray
HONG KONG: MP'S LETTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER
Sewriting &
TanyZyne.
State
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1.
No.10 Downing Street have asked for a draft reply to a letter to the Prime Minister from Mr Chris Patten MP (Bath Conservative) about reaction in Hong Kong to an article in the local press suggesting that Mrs Thatcher should raise the question of Hong Kong's future during the Chinese Prime Minister's visit to London.
Recommendation
2. I recommend that a reply should be sent to No.10 on the lines
of the attached drafts.
Background
3. The article referred to by Mr Patten (copy attached) was written by the Editor of the Far Eastern Economic Review, Mr Derek Davies. Mr Davies is, of course, entitled to his opinion. But it is our view, shared by the Governor and by HM Ambassador, Peking, that the Chinese Government are not yet ready to consider the long term future of Hong Kong. This judgement is borne out by recent state- ments, both private and public, by Chinese leaders. The Chinese Foreign Minister, for example, clearly implied that this was the
Position Chinese view in replying to a question at his press conference in London on 2 November.
4. When we first heard of Mr Davies' article, which was originally published on 26 October, it was agreed that, if questioned about it, we should take the following line:
"Hong Kong issues will certainly be discussed during Premier
Hua's visit. As is normal with such exchanges, the content of the discussions will be confidential. However, it is too early to solve problems relating to the long term future of
CONFIDENTIAL
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