TNAG-1036-FCO40-1286-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1981 — Page 44

CONFIDENTIAL

29

A

133

AKK Ouoll

B

Hickcouoli

C

123

$5192

PS/Mr Ridley'

Parliamentary Unit

Cc: Mr Donald

FED

U

PQ:

1.

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

АКК оно

ouol

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51

18 FFR 1981

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

ملل

PA

REGISTRY

Action Taken:

$19.21 AN 202

I submit a draft answer, notes for supplementaries and a background note for a starred PQ put down by the Lord Brockway for oral answer on 13 February. The answer and the line of the

supplementaries have been cleared with the Hong Kong Government, and HMA, Peking. FED and NTD concur.

2. A similar Question was asked by Mr Frank Hooley (Sheffield,

Heeley Labour) on 29 October.

-

3. The political future of Hong Kong was not discussed during

Chinese Foreign Minister Huang Hua's visit to London last

October. There was discussion on individual Crown leases for

the New Territories, but to say this publicly could have an adverse effect on confidence in the territory. The future of

Hong Kong was touched on during the visit of the then Chinese

Premier Hua Guofeng in November 1979. This was in the context

of New Territories Crown leases and business confidence which,

while high at present, is increasingly dependent on assurances of Chinese goodwill. It was agreed that HMG and the Chinese

Government would keep in touch on the matter.

4. If the Secretary of State's visit to the Far East has been

announced by 13 February (subject now only to Chinese agreement,

News Dept propose to announce it on 12 February) there may be

a supplementary question on whether the future of Hong Kong will

be discussed in Peking. No specific discussions are planned

although individual land leases may come up. The reply should

thus be 'No'. It would harm confidence to suggest that talks were in prospect:

Should the Minister be pressed for a fuller

reply the Governor advises using the formula in supplementary No 3.

10 February 1981

ip

R D Clift

CONFIDENTIAL