TNAG-0944-FCO40-1163-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1980 — Page 14

Chief Clerk

SECRET

HK Kowell Cuffice

НК

INTE

Мо

коно

2 OCT 1980

2.10

Hen Teken

挝

TALKS WITH CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER: FUTURE OF HONG KONG

1. I attach draft "Points to kake" basei a our earlier brief and Hong Kong Telegrams Nos 1261, 1262 and 1265

.i.a

10

2. I have used a fair amount of e) of Hong Kong Telegram No 1262. After discussion with Mr Donald I have however changed the sentence beginning 'Suggest a step-by-step approach

As

drafted by the Governor this seems tome in the first place to be rather unclear as to exact meaning. We officials know what the Governor means but I am not sure that the Secretary of State or Huang Hua will. In the second place, the Governor's wording appears to reduce the urgency of the problem and to imply that it will only be necessary to wait for difficulties to arise.

3. Peking Telegram No 633 suggests that the Secretary of State should not take the initiative in raising the future. We have not yet seen the Governor's view. However, we will in any case need a defensive brief.

30 September 1980

cc Mr Donald

Mr McLaren FED

Дир

SECRET

R D Clift

Hong Kong and General Department