80
Also at HKK 026/2
EPS 50
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENMA
FM HONG KONG 310857Z MAR
TO IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELEGRAM NUMBER 358 OF 31 MARCH, 1981
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING.
FOLLOWING FROM PRIVATE SECRETARY.
FUTURE OF HONG KONG.
TOP COPY
NKK oudl
RECEIVED A GOTRY NO. 51
06 APRIC
DECK OFFICER.
4
! REGISTRY
Action Taken
1. THIS QUESTION WAS RAISED AT LORD CARRINGTONSEETING WIT UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
MORNING. ASKED ABOUT HIS CURRENT THINKING ON THE PROBLEM, OTHE SECRETARY OF STATE SAID THAT THE LONG TERM OBJECTIVE WAS TO MAINTAIN THE PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS AS NEARLY AS POSSIBLE. HE DOUBTED WHETHER THE CHINESE HAD YET GIVEN MUCH THOUGHT TO THE PROBLEM BUT WOULD TRY TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY HAD IN MIND DURING HIS TALKS WITH CHINESE LEADERS IN PEKING. HE WOULD EXPLAIN THE FACTS OF THE SITUATION TO THEM, FACTS WHICH SUGGESTED THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO CHANGE IN THE PRESENT SITUATION. HE DID NOT EXPECT TO GET VERY FAR BUT HE WOULD CERTAINLY PUT HIS TOE IN THE WATER.
THERE WAS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE LEGAL APPROACH OF THE BRITISH AND THE FACT THAT THE CHINESE DID NOT RECOGNISE THE TREATIES. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO KNIT THESE TWO APPROACHES TOGETHER.
2. HE SUSPECTED THAT DENG XIAOPING THOUGHT HE HAD DISPOSED OF THE PROBLEM. HE WOULD TRY TO SECURE A REITERATION OF DENG'S ASSURANCES, IF HE COULD NOT GET ANYTHING BETTER. THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT ACCEPTED THEIR OBLIGATIONS TOWARDS HONG KONG.
3. F.C.0. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS WAS A PRIVATE MEETING, AND THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE WILL BE SPEAKING MUCH LESS FRANKLY ON THIS SUBJECT AT THIS EVENING'S PRESS CONFERENCE. THE ABOVE SHOULD
THEREFORE NOT REPEAT NOT BE USED BY NEWS DEPARTMENT.
MACLEHOSE
Anisza
STANDARD HRGD (4)
FED
CONFIDENTAL
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