TNAG-1037-FCO40-1287-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1981 — Page 77

GPS 316

SECRET

FM FCO 171300Z MARCH 81

SECRET

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG ·

TELEGRAM NUMBER 249 OF 17 MARCH

TOP COPY

1953 2

LICK OHoll

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51

19 MAR 1981

DESK OFFICER

PA

253.

مال

REGISTRY Action Taken

AN 254

AND TO IMMEDIATE PEKING (PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADORNDEX

PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM DONALD

SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT: FUTURE OF HONG KONG

1. BBC OVERSEAS SERVICE HAS ASKED FOR INTERVIEW WITH LORD

CARRINGTON BEFORE HIS VISIT TO THE FAR EAST. NEWS DEPARTMENT

ARE RECOMMENDING THAT HE AGREE TO THIS.

2. IT IS LIKELY THAT THE BBC WILL INCLUDE A QUESTION ABOUT THE

FUTURE OF HONG KONG, AND POSSIBLE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE.

EVEN IF THEY DO NOT THE QUESTION IS BOUND TO BE RAISED BY THE

PRESS BEFORE OR DURING THE TOUR. IT IS OBVIOUSLY IMPORTANT NOT

TO GIVE ANY HINTS WHICH MIGHT ON THE ONE HAND PUT UP THE BACKS OF

THE CHINESE OR ON THE OTHER RENEW SPECULATION IN HONG KONG ABOUT

A 'SELL-OUT'. AT THE SAME TIME WE THINK IT COULD BE COUNTER-

PRODUCTIVE TO CONFINE A REPLY TO A FLAT NEGATIVE.

·

3. WE HAVE IN MIND THE FOLLOWING FORMULA:

QUOTE: I SHOULD.

START BY STRESSING THAT THE BRITISH COMMITMENT TO HONG KONG

REMAINS AS STRONG AS EVER. AT THE SAME TIME, THE CHINESE LEADERS HAVE MADE CLEAR THAT THEY SHARE OUR INTEREST IN THE PROSPERITY AND STABILITY OF THE TERRITORY. WE SHALL NATURALLY REVIEW ANY

PRACTICAL QUESTIONS WHICH MAY AFFECT THE RELATIONSHIP WITH HONG KONG

SQUARE BRACKETS START EG IMMIGRATION, THE GUANGDONG NUCLEAR PROJECT SQUARE BRACKETS END AND OBVIOUSLY, IF THE OPPORTUNITY COMES UP DURING MY DISCUSSIONS WITH CHINESE LEADERS, I SHALL BE GLAD TO HEAR THEIR VIEWS ON WAYS IN WHICH CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG CAN BE FURTHER STRENGTHENED. SQUARE BRACKETS START IF PRESSED ON WHETHER

THERE WILL BE TALKS ABOUT THE LONG-TERM FUTURE SQUARE BRACKETS END I THINK IT BETTER TO TALK IN TERMS OF FINDING MEANS OF STRENGTHENING

CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG. SQUARE BRACKETS START IF PRESSED ON LAND LEASE QUESTION SQUARE BRACKETS END THIS IS A CONCRETE ISSUE ON WHICH I AM SURE A SENSIBLE, PRACTICAL SOLUTION WILL BE FOUND.

UNQUOTE.

CARRINGTON

LIMITED

HKGD

FED

NEWS DEPT

SIR E YOUDE

MR DONALD

SECRET

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