ד.
SECRET
TOP
HILE
RELIVED
2 MAY 1980
INDEX
PA
سا
REGISTRY Action Taken
A4
GR 250
SECRET
FM HONG KONG 020349Z MAY 60
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 593 OF 2 MAY
INFO PEKING
FOLLOWING FOR MURRAY, AUSS.
YOUR TELNO 3401 NEW TERRITORIES LEASES.
I HAVE DISCUSSED YOUR TUR AND THE EARLIER EXCHANGE OF LETTERS WITH CRADOCK.
2. ON REFLECTION, I BELIEVE THAT, AT THIS STAGE, A PRIME CONSIDER-
ATION MUST BE TO MOVE WITH CAUTION, NOT RISK A REBUFF, OR PREMATURELY CLAIM URGENCY. THE TIME FOR MORE RAPID MOVEMENT WILL BE IN 1981 WHEN IT WILL BE CLEARER THAN NOW TO THE CHINESE THAT THERE IS AN IMMINENT PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED. IN THE MEANTIME WE
MAY GET HINTS FROM THE CHINESE ON HOW THEY SEE THE WAY FORWARD.
THEIR HANDLING OF LAND FOR JOINT PROJECTS ACROSS THE BORDER
AND ALSO IN THE NEW TERRITORIES (AS THEY ARE HEAVILY INVOLVED THERE) COULD, FOR INSTANCE, BOTH PROVIDE POINTERS.
3. CRADOCK AND I ARE AGREED THAT, FOR THE MOMENT, HE SHOULD NOT
VOLUNTEER ANYTHING ABOUT LEASES, ALTHOUGH HE WOULD RESPOND
APPROPRIATELY IF THE SUBJECT CAME UP. WE ARE ALSO AGREED THAT, IF THERE IS A SUITABLE OPPORTUNITY, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SHOULD SPEAK IN CHINA AS SUGGESTED. IN THE LIGHT OF HIS VISIT WE WILL
CONSIDER FURTHER ACTION.
4. WE ARE AGREED THAT THE S FOR S SHOULD REFER TO THE PROBLEM AND
THAT THE CHINESE SHOULD BE WARNED THAT HE WILL DO SO. BUT WE
WOULD PREFER TO WAIT UNTIL NEARER THE TIME BEFORE RECOMMENDING THE LINE HE TAKES.
5. I DO NOT THINK SIR Y.K. KAN SHOULD RAISE THE SUBJECT IN CANTON.
ENOUGH LOCAL BUSINESSMEN HAVE ALREADY MENTIONED THE PROBLEM ON
THEIR OWN INITIATIVE, OUR MORE DIRECT MOVES SHOULD BE RESERVED FOR NONA OR PEKING.
MACLEHOSE
FILES
HK & GD
FED
MR MURRAY
SECRET
28
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