TNAG-1032-FCO40-1282-Possible-visit-by-Margaret-Thatcher--UK-Prime-Minister--to-H-1981 — Page 3

布政司署

香港下亞畢道

本署檔號 OUR REF.: TSX 1/80

來函檔號 YOUR REF.:

Quite!

R D Clift Esq

SECRET 06/14

Ente

28

GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT

LOWER ALBERT ROAD

HONG KONG

LAST PAPER

17 December 1981

Hong Kong & General Dept

F CO

Dear Dick,

Hkk 026/14

RECEIVED

1AM

YNC. $1

JIA

NO

८५८

13/1/92 AF 13/1

As you know, Edmund LAU, the General Manager of the Hong Kong and Yaumatei Ferry Company has a semi- family relationship with LIAO Chengzhi and keeps in fairly close touch with him through visits and correspondence.

2.

LAU told Richard Margolis earlier this week that David LI, the General Manager of the Bank of East Asia, had been entertained to dinner by LIAO during a recent visit to Peking. WANG Kuang and LI Jusheng (First and Second NCNA Directors here) were also present. During this dinner LIAO apparently referred to his correspondence. with Edmund LAU and, in particular to a recent SCMP article by Michael Jones (copy enclosed) which LAU had sent him. (Though datelined London this was based partly on a talk which Jones had with the Governor).

Attached

3.

According to Edmund LAU, LIAO Chengzhi commented that proposals had been received from the British for an ininerary but not for the substance of the talks during Mrs Thatcher's visit to China. He added that Peking was not ready to talk about the future of Hong Kong but would "take care" of Hong Kong interests.

4.

LIAO'S

But the

The reference to the British having proposed an "ininerary" for the Prime Minister's visit is odd; comment may have got garbled in transmission. remark about the Chinese not being ready to talk about the future of Hong Kong is clear enough, and consistent with other indications. LIAO may have intended that it should be relayed to us, as in fact happened.

ever,

Yours

Loomi

(R JT McLaren)

cc M Elliot Esq

FED FCO

PEKING

M W Atkinson Esq MBE

SECRET