GRS 267
SECRET
FM FCO 171030Z NOV 81
SECRET
Hick
371 от
2
19 NOV1981
DESK OFFICER
Y
INDEX
FA
Action Taken
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 883 OF 17 NOVEMBER
233
see
134
219
AND TO PRIORITY PEKING (PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR)
FOR GOVERNOR FROM CLIFT (PERSONAL)
PEKING TELNO 644: FUTURE OF HONG KONG
1. WE HAVE NOW TAKEN ACCOUNT OF HONG KONG AND PEKING COMMENTS
ON THE CONTINGENCY PAPER. A NEW DRAFT IS READY FOR SUBMISSION
TO MINISTERS. WE WILL SEND YOU COPIES BY BAG BUT DO NOT THINK
IT REQUIRES FURTHER CLEARANCE BY TELEGRAM.
2.
Mno 11/12
WE INTEND SHORTLY TO SUBMIT TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE BOTH
ON THE OPTIONS IN THE CONTINGENCY PAPER AND ON TACTICS LEADING
UP TO THE PLANNED VISIT BY THE PRIME MINISTER NEXT SEPTEMBER.
WE WILL IN THE SUBMISSION TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE POLITICAL AND
LEGAL IMPLICATIONS OF A POSSIBLE CHANGE OF SOVEREIGNTY AND WILL
INVITE THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO CONSIDER HOW HE WISHES TO PUT
THIS AND OTHER POINTS TO THE PRIME MINISTER AND OTHER COLLEAGUES.
WE INTEND TO SUGGEST THAT LORD CARRINGTON SHOULD WRITE TO THE
PRIME MINISTER ASKING HER TO AGREE FIRMLY TO THE SEPTEMBER DATE.
HE MAY FEEL THAT THE QUESTION OF THE FUTURE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED BY THE CABINET OD COMMITTEE (OR A SMALLER GROUP OF MINISTERS IF APPROPRIATE), BUT MUCH DEPENDS ON LORD CARRINGTON'S
VIEWS ON TIMING AND TACTICS.
3. MIFT CONTAINS THE TEXT OF THE DRAFT OD PAPER. WE HAD A
PRELIMINARY DISCUSSION ON IT WITH SIR P CRADOCK LAST WEEK. AS
YOU SEE IT OUTLINES THE TACTICS FOR NEXT YEAR WITH SOME CAUTION
BUT DOES SEEK MINISTERS' AGREEMENT TO THE OPTION OF A CHANGE IN
SOVEREIGNTY IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE IF APPROPRIATE.
4. I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS AND THOSE OF HMA PEKING
IF POSSIBLE BY 240900Z.
234
See
(235"
244
240
CARRINGTON
LIMITED HK&G D FED
MR DONALD
1
SECRET
Notes Pão 241u
302/4/111
кае
19/11
Pehing havx replied. tike are to do so
a 2 Dec
Butter.
noted las
27/4
271"
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