TNAG-1119-FCO40-1394-Territorial-claims-to-British-possessions-and-dependencies-1982 — Page 12

A Attached

BACKGROUND NOTE

1.

Since the question could be read to imply incorrectly that

negotiations are being carried out on British sovereignty over

the Falkland Islands the answer makes it clear that this is not

the case.

2.

Given that the question is phrased in the present tense

there is no need to mention in the answer that on 25/26 June,

under the Lisbon Statement, the Sintra Meeting with the Spaniards

will take place to start negotiations aimed at overcoming all the

differences between us over Gibraltar.

3.

B

C

Attached

DS

An announcement that the Sintra Meeting would start on

25 June was made to the House on 20 April by Mr Hurd and

confirmed that the meeting was going ahead came most recently

on 14 June in a reply by Mr Rifkind.

4. A PQ was asked recently (by Mr Home Robertson on 9 June)

which territories are subject to a claim by other nations.

(Hansard extract attached).

Hong Kong and General Department

16 June 1982

THIS IS A COPY THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR

40 YEARS UNDER FOI EXEMPTION NO....27.(1)...