TNAG-1142-FCO40-1422-Hong-Kong-and-the-Falkland-Islands-crisis-1982 — Page 77

OO HONG KONG DESKBY 19010OZ

GRS 178

CONFIDENTIAL

DESKBY 190100Z

FM FCO 181600Z MAY 82

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

CONFIDENTIAL

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مجھے

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TOP COPY

5906 - 1

TELEGRAM NUMBER 372 OF 18 MAY,

INFO PRIORITY PEKING

FALKLAND ISLANDS AND HONG KONG

27/5 Pas 2715

NO

сае

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WE PRESUME

1. WE WERE CONCERNED TO READ IN GIST OF 13 MAY THE REPORT

HEADED 'FALKLANDS WAR MAY HIT SINO-HONG KONG TIES'.

THAT WHATEVER WAS SAID HAS GOT GARBLED IN TRANSCRIPTION AND TRANSLATION BUT WE ARE SURPRISED THAT ANYTHING MAY HAVE BEEN SAID.

2. IN YOUR TELNO_354 YOU SUGGESTED THAT THE RIGHT LINE TO TAKE

IN RESPONDING TO PRESS QUESTIONS WAS TO EMPHASISE THAT THERE IS

ABSOLUTELY NO PARALLEL TO BE DRAWN BETWEEN HONG KONG AND THE

FALKLANDS. WE CONFIRMED OUR AGREEMENT IN OUR TELNO 288.

3. WE ARE OF COURSE STICKING FIRMLY TO THIS LINE IN REPLY TO ANY

QUESTIONS AND IN ALL BRIEFING. WE ARE NOT (NOT) IN ANY CASE

INITIATING ANY DISCUSSION OF THE ISSUE. WE NOTE THAT THE CHINESE

HAVE ALSO AVOIDED MAKING ANY CONNECTION. TO DO SO CANNOT SERVE

ANYONE'S INTERESTS EXCEPT THOSE OF THE ARGENTINES.

4. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR CONFIRMATION THAT YOU ARE

STICKING TO THIS AGREED LINE AND WILL NOT INITIATE

ANY DISCUSSION.

PYM

See (28

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HKGD

FED

XX

SAMD

NEWS DEPT

MR DONALD

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COPIES TO:

HKGO, LONDON : PERSONAL FOR

SIR J CATER.

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CONFIDENTIAL

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