TNAG-1037-FCO40-1287-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1981 — Page 70

00 HONG KONG

GRS 216

SECRET

FM FCO 181400Z MAR 31

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

SECRET

HEAD OF HKED

2195 - 3

66A

нки огно

RECEIVED IN RESISTRY NO. 51 2 5MAR1981

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

REGISTRY Action Taken

Mu

in Frige

AN 29

2413

TIO*

TELEGRAM NUMBER 257

PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM CLIFT

YOUR TELNO 299: FUTURE OF HONG KONG

1.

2.

WE WILL COVER THIS POINT.

GRATEFUL FOR CLARIFICATION ON ONE OTHER POINT. IN PARAGRAPHS 4-5

OF THE ATTACHEMENT TO YOUR LETTER OF 24 FEBRUARY TO YOUDE, YOU SAY

THAT YOUR AUTHORITY TO ADMINISTER THE NEW TERRITORIES AND GRANT

LEASES THERE WILL EXPIRE IN 1997, WITHOUT PRIOR AMENDMENT TO THE

1898 ORDER IN COUNCIL. YOU MENTIONED THIS AGAIN DURING YOUR VISIT

AND SUGGESTED AMENDMENT OF THE MAIN BRIEF FOR THE SECRETARY OF

STATE TO SAY THAT 'FOR LONGER LEASES TO BE ISSUED THE 1893 ORDER

WOULD HAVE TO BE AMENDED'. HOWEVER, IN THE SUPPLEMENTARY BRIEF

FOR TALKS BETWEEN OFFICIALS (IF THESE OCCUR) WE MAKE THE POINT,

CLEARED LAST YEAR WITH YOU AND LEGAL ADVISERS, THAT LEGISLATION

NEED NOT NECESSARILY BE PASSED AT ONCE IN ORDER TO ALLOW FOR

EXTENDED LEASES BEYOND 1997. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THIS MIGHT BE DONE RETROSPECTIVELY IF THE POINT WERE CHALLENGED. THIS DREW ON POINTS IN YOUR TELNO 1265 OF 29 SEPTEMBER 1980. CAN YOU

CONFIRM THAT THIS REMAINS YOUR POSITION? IF IT WERE NOW DECIDED (AND AGREED WITH THE CHINESE) THAT LEASES SHOULD RUN BEYOND 1997, WOULD IT BE ACCEPTABLE TO HOLD UP AMENDMENT OF THE 1898 ORDER

UNTIL CHALLENGED? GRATEFUL FOR COMMENTS DESKBY 20090OZ.

CARRINGTON

1

SECRET