TNAG-1053-FCO40-1303-China-and-Hong-Kong-Working-Group-1981 — Page 51

121/4

PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

Foreign and Commonwealth Office London SW1

233 3184

Telephone 01-

iin

5

G C Dick Esq CRE4

Department of Trade

1 Victoria Street LONDON SW1H OET

HKK 121/4

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51 2 2 JAN1981

DECK OFFICER

INDEX

No

Your reference

Our reference HKK 121/4

Date

PA

REGISTRY Action Taken

Msza, Pao 30/1

CHINA AND HONG KONG WORKING GROUP

20 January 1981

повил

Bu so noted 140 23/1

2859

MAS

2-3

Nicic 1zıla

1980

1. I have sent a reply to your letter of 18 December 1980 to Robin McLaren with our suggestions on how the question of the future of Hong Kong and its implications for UK trade should be handled in the Working Group.

2.

I think it might be hlepful to send you a strictly personal accompanying note to underline the problems which we see in the circulation of a paper on this subject. As you know, in the absence of any apparent Chinese inclination to face up to the question of the future in any detail, the problem becomes one of maintaining business and other confidence in Hong Kong. Therefore such studies as we undertake have to have very restricted circulation and a high classification. It is particularly important that we avoid any idea developing, particularly in Hong Kong itself but also in commercial circles here that we are undertaking contingency planning of this sort.

3.

In fact, our view is that at this stage we are most unlikely to come up with any answers which would provide specific pointers for business interests. We stick by what we say on the significance of the Chinese attitude and assurances. These are not just waffle; but there is no likelihood of our getting any more definite indications at present.

4.

In these circumstances I do not think the Group would lose out by not having a paper and we can have a reasonable discussion about the line which we should take with enquirers. I hope that this explanation is of some help.

R D Clift

bcc

Mr McLaren FED

Hong Kong and General Department

PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

* ་་ ་་**

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