TNAG-1144-FCO40-1424-Hong-Kong-and-the-Falkland-Islands-crisis-1982 — Page 99

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FM FCO 201900Z APRIL 82

TO IMMEDIATE PEKING

TELEGRAM NUMBER 171 OF 20 APRIL

INFO UKMIS NEW YORK: HONG KONG

YOUR TELNO 227: CHINESE POSITION ON FALKLAND ISLANDS

1.

GIVEN THE LINE OFFERED BY ZHAO AND DENG TO RECENT BRITISH VISITORS, WE ARE NOT SURPRISED BY THE LINE OF REASONING IN THE COMMENTARY. NEVERTHELESS WE ARE DISAPPOINTED BY THE EVIDENCE OF CHINESE MOVEMENT, AND YOU HAVE DISCRETION TO SPEAK TO THE MFA. THE AIM SHOULD BE AS YOU SUGGEST TO TRY TO HEAD OFF ANY CHINESE DRIFT IN THE SECURITY COUNCIL. THERE IS NO NEED FOR YOU TO GET INVOLVED IN ANY DISCUSSION WHICH STRAYS AWAY FROM THE FALKLANDS OR, HAS IMPLICATIONS FOR HONG KONG.

PYM

Lut what 2

agreed with

RED!

FCO

FED

CABINET OFFICE

ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION

FALKLAND ISLANDS

COPIES TO

PS/CHANCELLOR

SIR K COUZENS MR LIILER

MR HAWTIN

TREASURY

MR PERETZ

MR ILETT

MR FULLER DIO CABINET OFFICE MISS DICKSON (EIP DIVN) D/ENERGY

CONFIDENTIAL