TNAG-1037-FCO40-1287-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1981 — Page 91

GR 210

SECRET

SECRET

DESKBY FCO 090909Z

FM PEKING 080625Z MAR 81

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 140 OF 8/3

INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG

47

YOUR TEL NO 83:

тор сори

Akk oHoli

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51 10 MAR 1981

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

میں

PA

$17.5. fin

REGISTRY Action Taken

AN 194

1.

PAPER ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG

IN MY VIEW THE PAPER IS A VALUABLE MIND-CLEARING EXERCISE. I AM IN GENERAL AGREEMENT WITH ITS OUTLINES AND WITH THE BULK OF THE GOVERNOR'S COMMENTS IN HIS LETTER OF 24 FEBRUARY.

2. THE PAPER IS, INEVITABLY, RATHER ONE-SIDED, IN THAT IT SAYS LITTLE ABOUT THE KEY FACTOR, THE ATTITUDES AND INTENTIONS OF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT. IN PART THIS IS BECAUSE WE KNOW VIRTUALLY NOTHING ABOUT THEM. IT IS OF COURSE ALSO AN ARGUMENT IN FAVOUR OF THE INITIATION OF DIALOGUE WHEN SUITABLE CIRCUM- STANCES ARISE. AS OUR KNOWLEDGE INCREASES, THIS ASPECT OF THE PAPER WILL NEED TO BE FILLED OUT IN SUCCESSIVE REDRAFTS.

3.

A FURTHER GENERAL COMMENT: I REMAIN WARY OF THE NEAT DISTINCTION BETWEEN MEDIUM AND LONG-TERM PROBLEMS. I DOUBT WHETHER THIS EXIST IN THE CHINESE MIND. THE KEY WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY BE SOVEREIGNTY AND WE NEED TO BE CLEAR SOON ON THE CONCESSIONS WE COULD MAKE IN THAT AREA IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE A

SATISFACTORY ARRANGEMENT.

4.

I APPRECIATE THAT THE PRESENT VERSION OF THE PAPER HAS NOW BEEN FINALISED. FOR FUTURE REDRAFTS, AND IN DISCUSSION WITH THE GOVERNOR ON 9 MARCH, YOU MAY WISH TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE POINTS IN MY IFT.

CRADOCK

LIMITED

HD/HK & GD

HD/FED

SIR E YOUDE

MR DONALD

SECRET

40A

see

56