TNAG-0937-FCO40-1156-Visits-of-Sir-Murray-MacLehose--Governor-of-Hong-Kong--to-th-1980 — Page 66

Sir E Youde

SECRET

HKK0263

NOV 1980

PA

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ALOISTRY Action Taken

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CONTINGENCY PLANNING ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG

1.

معطل

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However,

Our strategy at present is to concentrate on the short- term problems and indeed to deal with these so far as possible on the basis of concrete cases. If this goes according to plan it may for some considerable time be possible to avoid getting involved in wider issues of principle and law. we should be looking ahead to the point at which contacts with the Chinese do begin to touch on the future. When that happens, we will need to be prepared to take positions on a number of points. These are much too wide to detail here but they include HMG's basic objectives, taking account of relations with China and our obligations in Hong Kong; our legal position on the various Treaties; our attitude to the various ways in which the relationship between Hong Kong and China could develop, in particular how we would view a process of mutual absorption. eg through the development of special zones on the Guangdong side of the border.

2. I fully realise the delicacy of an exercise of this sort. Any hint that it was being undertaken could hit Hong Kong confidence and encourage talk of a sell-out. But at some stage Ministers are going to require briefing on these fundamental points and I think we should take advantage of Sir Murray's last year in office to get such a study under way. I hope there will be time to discuss this during the Governor's visit. I could continue when I visit Hong Kong in late November.

R D Clift

22 October 1980

cc Mr McLaren FED

Hong Kong and General Department

SECRET