TNAG-1040-FCO40-1290-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1981 — Page 76

231

GPS 260

CONFIDENHAL

FM HONG KONG 140350Z NOV 81

TO IMMEDIATE F C O

MICK OTO/1

CONFIDENTIAL

RECENZE 77 BEASTY MD. $1

1€ NOWORKS

DESK OSTICEN

TELEGRAM NUMBER 1024 OF 14 NOVEMBER INFO PRIORITY PEKING, HONG KONG GOVERNMENDEOFFICE" LONDO

No

REFORM CLUB PAPER ON FUTURE OF HONG KONG

REZISTRY

૧૪

16/11

160 1614

"Copied to RED + кофт

Mr Donald.

Pas colll

THE REFORM CLUB OF HONG KONG HAVE PRODUCED A SHORT PAPER

PROPOSING THAT HMG SHOULD RELINQUISH ANY CLAIM TO HONG KONG

ISLAND AND KOWLOON AFTER 1997. IN RETURN THE CHINESE WOULD DECLARE

THE WHOLE OF HONG KONG TO BE A TRUST TERRITORY UNDER BRITISH

ADMINISTRATION FOR 20 YEARS AND THEREAFTER UNTIL THE CHINESE GIVE

10 YEARS NOTICE OF THEIR INTENTION TO RESUME CONTROL. THE PAPER

WILL BE RELEASED TO THE PRESS WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS AND IS

LIKELY TO BE WELL PUBLICISED HERE.

See (236)

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2. THE PAPER DRAWS HEAVILY ON AN ARTICLE BY ALFRED SHERMAN PUBLISHED IN THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST ON 5 SEPTEMBER (COPIED TO THE DEPARTMENT AT THE TIME). SHERMAN WAS DESCRIBED BY THE SCMP AS ''SPEECH WRITER FOR PRIME MINISTER MARGARET THATCHER''. THE REFORM CLUB SAY THAT HIS IDEAS SHOULD BE REGARDED AS A

SEMI-OFFICIAL INDICATION OF HMG'S VIEWS.

HASI

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3. WE WILL TAKE THE FOLLOWING LINE IN RESPONSE TO PRESS ENQUIRIES

HERE:

(A) THE REFORM CLUB'S STATEMENT IS ONE EXPRESSION OF THE CONCERN ABOUT THE LONG TERM FUTURE FELT BY MANY PEOPLE IN HONG

KONG. THE GOVERNMENT TAKES NOTE OF ALL SUCH IDEAS AND OPINIONS.

IT WOULD NOT BE HELPFUL TO COMMENT ON THEM IN DETAIL.

(B) THE STATEMENT REFERS TO AN ARTICLE BY MR. ALFRED SHERMAN, PUBLISHED IN THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST ON 5 SEPTEMBER.

MR. SHERMAN IS NOT A SPOKESMAN FOR HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT.

HIS VIEWS ARE ENTIRELY HIS OWN.

(C) AS THE GOVERNOR SAID IN HIS ADDRESS TO LEGCO, RELATIONS WITH CHINA ARE EXCELLENT. THE STEADY DEVELOPMENT OF RELATIONS

BETWEEN HONG KONG AND C INA IS MAKING A VALUABLE CONTRIBUTION

TO HONG KONG'S FUTURE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY.

MACLEHOSE

see

HKK 36

232

19

1982

1981

19

MINIMAL

HRED (4)

NEWS D

CONFIDENMAL