TNAG-1040-FCO40-1290-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1981 — Page 224

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Mr Donald

SECRET

CHINESE VIEWS ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG

1.

HER 040/1

ROJENCE A DARY NO. 51

1 7 SE1981

DESK OFFI

INDCX

ملل

Actkun Takqj

17.9 189 18

I should record the Chinese Ambassador's remarks on this subject at the dinner which he gave for Mr McLaren last night. During a speech wishing Mr McLaren well, the Ambassador said that while he would have a difficult job in Hong Kong he could expect the full cooperation from the Chinese 'representatives' there. As regards the future, he thought it worth repeating what he had said during a dinner which he had given for Mr Fung King Hay of Sun Hung Kai Securities from Hong Kong on 15 September. Mr Fung had asked about the future and Ambassador Ke had said that he should not worry because 'those people who were now making money in Hong Kong would be able to continue making money after 1997'. Mr Fung had thanked him and said that he was going on to New York. Could he quote Mr Ke? The Ambassador had said no because nobody in America had heard of Ambassador Ke. Mr Fung should simply use the words as his own.

2.

In essence the Ambassador was simply repeating the 'hearts at ease' message in another form. However, the fact that he took this line with Mr Fung (who has had a number of exchanges in Peking on this subject) and that he chose to repeat it to Foreign Office officials in the friendliest possible terms does underline the wish of the present Chinese administration to get their basic message over. There is, however, still no sign, of any real readiness to come to grips with the detail of legal or other problems.

Blip би

17 September 1981

R D Clift

Hong Kong and General Department

сс

Mr McLaren, FED

Mr McQuade /Mr Williamson

Governor, Hong Kong(Personal)

HM Ambassador, Peking (Personal)

SECRET