TNAG-1040-FCO40-1290-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1981 — Page 91

DRAFT: XX/letter/tex/ospătól/hXič

FROM:

SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN

AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

DEPARTMENT:

PRIME MINISTER

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

TO:

Top Secret

Secret

Confidential

Restricted

10 DOWNING STREET

TEL. NO:

TYPE: Draft/Final 1-+

Reference

Your Reference

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Unclassified

PRIVACY MARKING

SUBJECT: FUTURE OF HONG KONG

1.

...In Confidence

CAVEAT..

Enclosures-flag(s)......

we

Since I visited Hong Kong and Peking in April,

have been considering very carefully how to deal with

the problems which may result from uncertainty over the

Territory's future.

2.

I have taken particular account of the fact that

you have undertaken to visit China as a return for

Hua Guofeng's visit in 1979. I am sure that this would

be an excellent move in the context of our relations with

China and our international position as a whole. I know

that you have it in mind, subject to your other commit-

ments, to carry out this visit (together with Hong Kong

and Japan) in September 1982. With your agreement I

confirmed to the Chinese in April that you hoped to visit

China during 1982. When Humphrey Atkins goes in

January 1982 he can expect to be asked about possible

dates. He could, of course, give them the same general

response that I did. But time is going on and September

is a popular month for high-level visitors to Peking. I

suggest therefore that he should put down a marker that

you hope in principle to go in September.

SECRET

/3.