TNAG-1036-FCO40-1286-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1981 — Page 40

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SECRET

FM FCO 131550Z FEB 81

TO PRIORITY HONG KONG .

TELEGRAM NUMBER 142 OF 13 FEBRUARY 81

INFO PRIORITY PEKING

NIR

НСК оно

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51

17 FEB 1981

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

мо

$17,2

п

116: FUTURE OF HONG KONG

FOR GOVERNOR FROM CLIFT

YOUR TELNOS 114, 115 AND

1. HANY THANKS FOR TURS WHICH WITH VIEWS OF HMA PEKING WILL BE

INVALUABLE IN SUBMITTING TO MINISTERS.

REGISTRY Action Taken

2. ONE POINT WE NEED TO COVER IS THAT OF A RENEWED DEMAND FOR A CHINESE REPRESENTATIVE IN HONG KONG. AS YOU KNOW, WE ARE LOOKING

AT THIS AS A POSSIBLE CHINESE RIPOSTE TO A REQUEST ON OUR PART

FOR MORE EXPLICIT CHINESE ASSURANCES, EG ON LAND LEASES. BUT WE HAVE ALSO TO BE PREPARED FOR CHINESE RAISING QUESTION SEPARATELY, EG AFTER STICKING FIRMLY TO EXISTING ASSURANCES.

3. SUBJECT TO ANY COMMENTS YOU OR PEKING MAY HAVE, WE PROPOSE TO RECOMMEND FOLLOWING LINE FOR SECRETARY OF STATE'S BRIEF:

QUOTE: PRESENT INFORMAL ARRANGEMENTS WORK WELL. ANY MAJOR CHANGE MIGHT CAUSE DIFFICULTIES IN HONG KONG WHERE IT COULD

AFFECT CONFIDENCE. UNQUOTE.

CARRINGTON

AW182

NNNN

D

LIMITED

HKGD

FED

PS

PS/LPS

PS/MR BLAKER

PS/PUS

SIR E YOUDE

HR DONALD

1

SECRET

1

!

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