TNAG-0944-FCO40-1163-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1980 — Page 6

DRAFT RECORD

SECRET

W 118

HONG KONG:

NEW TERRITORIES LEASES: MEETING ON

8 AUGUST 1980

DSR 11C

Present:

Sir E Youde (Deputy PUS) (In the Chair)

Sir P Cradock (HMA Peking)

Mr R B Clift (Head, HKGD)

Mr RJT McLaren (Head, FED)

Mr P Morrice (Assistant, HKGD)

Sir M MacLehose (Governor of Hong Kong)

Sir P Haddon-Cave (Financial

Secretary, Hong Kong)

Mr DR Ford (Hong Kong

Commissioner, London)

Dr D C Wilson (Political

Adviser, Hong Kong)

1.

Discussion was on the basis of a paper entitled 'Points

requiring further elaboration', the draft 'Points to Make'

for the brief for the Secretary of State's forthcoming visit

to China, and minutes by Mr Rushford (Legal Adviser) and

Mr Griffiths; (Attorney-General of Hong Kong) of a meeting

of lawyers held on 1 August.

2.

Agreement was reached on the following points:

a) Whatever steps were taken on the leases issue, they

should have the endorsement of, or be acquiesced in by

the Chinese.

b) Any action taken on leases in the New Territories which

purported to ignore 1997 would be unacceptable.

c) Leases going beyond 1997 could not be granted unless

the first such lessee was a Chinese Government Agency

or official organisation, in which case the Chinese

Government should be told that what was being done

could be challenged under British law and would

require the neccesary legal adjustment to be made.

SECRET

/Having

S4200(22484)DD 0832198 300M 7/79 GWB LTD GP.870

Hestel 1982.

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