TNAG-0944-FCO40-1163-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1980 — Page 61

Original at: HK

Thi

ry for:

никогда

Infolation only / Action on

Para(s)

GR 230

SECRET

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кконо

RATERA

15 SEP

SECRET

illo

Агия.

FM HONG KONG 170921Z SEP 80

TO IMMEDIATE F C O

TELEGRAM NUMBER 1194 OF 17 SEPTEMBER

FOR SIR EDWARD YOUDE

FROM POLITICAL ADVISER

1. WE SPOKE ABOUT THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S BRIEF ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG AND I HAVE DISCUSSED WITH THE GOVERNOR. HE AGREES THAT IT WOULD BE WRONG TO SUGGEST THAT WE ARE READY TO OPEN A DIALOGUE ON THE LONG-TERM FUTURE WHEN OUR OWN IDEAS ON WHAT TO SAY ARE NOT CLEAR. HE THEREFORE SUGGESTS THAT IN THE SPEAKING NOTES IN PARA 1, THE LAST SENTENCE AND PERHAPS THE PENULTIMATE SENTENCE SHOULD BE OMITTED, AND THAT THE FIRST SENTENCE OF PARA 5. SHOULD BE TONED DOWN TO SAY THAT IT WAS NOT TOO SOON TO START THINKING SERIOUSLY ABOUT THE LONGER TERM FUTURE OF HONG KONG.

2. ALSO IN PARA 5 HE SUGGESTS:-

(A) FOR **NEW TERRITORIES LEASES'' SUBSTITUTE 'INDIVIDUAL LEASES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES''.

(B) DELETE ''NEED NOT AFFECT'' AND SUBSTITUTE AVOIDS AFFECTING**,

3. GENERALLY SPEAKING THE GOVERNOR SAYS HE HAS HAD DIFFICULTY COMMENTING ON THIS BRIEF BECAUSE OF ITS FORMAT AND BECAUSE THE ABSENCE OF THE COVERING NOTE LEAVES UNCLEAR WHAT EMPHASIS EACH SPEAKING POINT IS TO BE ACCORDED. HE THEREFORE HOPES THERE WILL BE TIME TO DISCUSS THE BRIEF IN HONG KONG. IN ANY CASE HE PRESUMES THE COVERING NOTE WILL MAKE THE OBVIOUS POINT THAT SINCE THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT IS NEWLY FORMED AND PREOCCUPIED WITH DOMESTIC AFFAIRS IT IS A BAD TIME TO PRESS IT ON AN ISSUE AS POLITICALLY DIFFICULT AS THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG AND THAT IN ANY CASE THERE IS NO IMMEDIATE NEED TO DO SO, THOUGH THE SUBJECT SHOULD BE MENTIONED.

MACLEHOSE

C.

LIMITED

HKMD

SIR.E. YOUDE

FED

MR DONALD

PS

PS/MR BLAKER

PSPUS

SECRET

1.

ASA

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