TNAG-0941-FCO40-1160-Visit-by-Lord-Carrington--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-1980 — Page 138

alos at: I KOSECRET

HKK 026/17

D/Mr Blaker

23 SEP 1980

40A

agres

Mr. GKFT, HICED Mr. Blakes

rom 15/9

PA Jaza

дж

бат

1 I agree generally with this except for one point which concerns paragraph 5 of the Points To Make at A.

This suggests

that we should say to the Chinese that 'It is not too soon to open a dialogue on the longer term future of Hong Kong'. My own view is that we should say that 'It is not too soon to

begin thinking seriously about the longer term future of Hong Kong'.

I do think it is too soon to open a dialogue because we, for our part, have no clear idea on how things will develop and would

not therefore have anything to say if the Chinese did respond to what might look like an invitation to talks.

2 I have had a word with the Hong Kong Political Adviser who thinks that what I have suggested might be closer to the Governor's intention than the present formulation.

12 September 1980

Howard Youde

SECRET