TNAG-1041-FCO40-1291-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1981 — Page 20

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6.

(IF CHINESE ASK FOR OUR SPECIFIC VIEWS) HERE TO LEARN

RATHER THAN GO INTO DETAIL. OF COURSE WE HAVE BEEN THINKING

BUT NEED TO KNOW CHINESE IDEAS. SHOULD AIM TO RECOMMEND

MEASURES TO MAINTAIN CONFIDENCE OF INVESTORS IN HONG KONG IN THE

MEDIUM TERM.

7. (IF CHINESE OFFER SPECIFIC VIEWS) THESE VIEWS WILL BE CARE-

FULLY STUDIED BY MY OFFICIALS. THE OPENING OF A DIALOGUE ON

THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG IS TO BE WELCOMED.

LINE WITH PRESS IN HONG KONG

8. HONG KONG NATURALLY CAME UP IN OUR BILATERAL DISCUSSIONS. WE

AGREED ON THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING STABILITY AND CONFIDENCE.

I AM CONVINCED OF THE SERIOUSNESS OF CHINESE ASSURANCES TO

INVESTORS IN HONGKONG. MEANWHILE OUR RELATIONS WITH CHINA AND

PRACTICAL COOPERATION OVER HONG KONG ARE FIRST CLASS.

9. (IF ASKED WHETHER ANY AGREEMENT WITH CHINA ON 1997 WAS SOUGHT)

I WAS IN CHINA TO LEARN. IT WAS RIGHT AT THIS STAGE TO CONCEN-

TRATE ON GETTING THEIR VIEWS ON A RANGE OF PROBLEMS.

LO. (IF ASKED AND DEPENDING ON STATUS OF PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT)

MRS THATCHER AGREED WITH CHINESE LEADERS IN 1979 TO KEEP IN TOUCH

WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT ON HONG KONG. HER VISIT WILL PROVIDE

AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS.

CARRINGTON

NNNN

DISTR

LIMITED

HKGD

FED

PS

PS/LPS

PS/PUS

SIR E YOUDE

MR DONALD

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