TNAG-1038-FCO40-1288-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1981 — Page 199

00 ISLAMABAD

GRS 128

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$

Also at HKK 026/2

TOP COM

SECRET

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RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51

3 1 MAR 1981

DESK OFFICER

REGISTRY

FM FCO 271645Z MAR 81

TO IMMEDIATE ISLAMABAD

INDEX

мо

TELEGRAM NUMBER 308 OF 27 MARCH 1981

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG (FOR GOVERNOR)

PA

Action Taken

£343. 1431

3824 1

-

FOR YOUDE FROM CLIFT

นวิน

SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO CHINA: BRIEF NO 8(A): FUTURE OF

HONG KONG

1. MR BLAKER HAS COMMENTED ON THE SUGGESTED PRESS LINE IN PARA- GRAPH 8 OF THE POINTS TO MAKE THAT THE LAST SENTENCE COULD EASILY BE TAKEN AS REFERRING SIMPLY TO LEASES UP TO 1997. THE PRESENT WORDING COULD BE READ TO CAST DOUBT ON THE BASIS AND VALIDITY OF SUCH EXISTING LEASES IN THAT WE MIGHT APPEAR TO BE SEEKING CHINESE ENDORSEMENT OF THEM, WHICH WOULD BE A NEW DEPARTURE. MR BLAKER WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD ENSURE THAT THIS POINT IS FULLY DISCUSSED WITH THE GOVERNOR AND OTHERS BEFORE THE BRIEF

IS FINALISED.

CARRINGTON

NNNN

DISTRIBUTION:

LIMITED

HKGD

FED

PS/MR BLAKER

PS/PUS

MR DONALD

1

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7777