TNAG-1025-FCO40-1275-Visit-by-Lord-Carrington--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-1981 — Page 92

SECRET.

-3--

provides brief for officials talks). Otherwise matter should not

be pursued during visit.

PRESS LINE

8. Press line recommended in the 'Points to Make' is similar to

that used during Chairman Hua Guofeng's visit in November 1979.

It proposes a substantive clarification of Chinese attitude to

individual leaseholders which would in itself assist confidence.

Chinese may not, of course, be prepared to go that far.

CHINESE REPRESENTATION IN HONG KONG

9.

Chinese have raised idea several times in recent years.

well revert.

May

Previously we have taken line that time was not ripe

for this move. First Director of NCNA is now channel of communication

between Hong Kong and Peking on all issues and accepted as de facto representative. If they now propose formal status for Representative

during discussion of measures to preserve confidence in Hong Kong

we should not rule out but insist that it would be unsettling to

Hong Kong unless balanced by something definite about at least medium-term future. It should therefore only be considered in context

of agreed measures covering issue of, say, 25 year land leases or other definite measures. In any case essential that functions and

role of Representative be defined and agreed, so as to avoid 'two

Governors1.

SOVEREIGNTY OVER HONG KONG

10.

In

Chinese may suggest British recognition of their sovereignty over Hong Kong. Our line on this should be even tougher bargaining.

view of legal problems, position should be reserved.

would be a matter for British Government as a whole.

In any case

Before

/considering

SECRET