TNAG-1041-FCO40-1291-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1981 — Page 41

DSR

Revised)

DRAFT:

SECRET

FROM:

minute/letter/telefet et A despăïñ/note

TYPE: Draft/Final 1+

Reference

LORD PRIVY SEAL

DEPARTMENT:

SECRETARY OF STATE

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

TO:

Top Secret

Secret

Confidential

Restricted

Unclassified

TEL. NO:

Your Reference

Copies to:

PRIVACY MARKING

CAVEAT.

.....In Confidence

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

SUBJECT:

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

1. I have considered the attached submission carefully

particularly in the light of the proposed visit by the

Prime Minister to China next year, and the way in which

should lead up to this. My own visit to Hong Kong and

China in January needs to fit into this.

2.

I agree with the recommendation in the submission

that it is important to get the Prime Minister's

agreement to pay a visit to China in September 1982

and to do this soon. There are important reasons,

both in terms of our bilateral relationship with China

and with the international political scene,

which argue

strongly for a visit. I would hope very much that we

could get Mrs Thatcher to go firm on this before I leave

for the Far East.

3.

It is equally important that we should make clear to

the Prime Minister that if she goes to Peking she will ha

to raise the question of Hong Kong and that this in turn

could create problems because of the expectations which

will be aroused in Hong Kong and elsewhere that some

kind of solution is imminent.

7

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/4.