TNAG-0945-FCO40-1164-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1980 — Page 33

SECRET

-2-

Deng's position is still not consolidated. This tends to produce two contradictory points of view. On the one hand, most people acknowledge that the Peking Government is preoccupied with much more pressing concerns than Hong Kong and that it would be counter- productive to take any initiative at the moment on a subject which is politically delicate. On the other, some take the view that advantage should be taken of Deng's administration to get as favourable a deal for Hong Kong as possible. At present the first view certainly prevails but we may hear a bit more of the second as time goes on.

2 December 1980

Дир

R D Clift

Hong Kong and General Department

cc Mr Morrice/Mr Williamson

Confidence

is still being maintamed in The Japanese (see last sentence of 1691)

Hay Kang. have probably bigger fish to fry

НК

have not regarded Hk

for investment.

SECRET

as

ру

in

SE Asia and

their particular patch

57/4/12.

Astrald

3712