TNAG-1157-FCO40-1437-Visits-by-FCO-Ministers-to-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 31

KATHLEEN WONG:

WILL THAT BE CONSIDERED?

LORD BELSTEAD: WELL, THAT IS A MATTER FOR THE NEGOTIATORS.

DANIEL DODD (?)

IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT THE TALKS MAY BE COMPLETED WITHIN ABOUT A YEAR, WHICH WOULD COINCIDE WITH WHEN MRS. THATCHER HAS TO GO TO THE COUNTRY AGAIN. IS THAT A REASONABLE

SUGGESTION?

LORD BELSTEAD: I MUST SAY, IF A MINISTER IN THE GOVERNMENT IS TO SUGGEST ON BEHALF OF HIS PRIME MINISTER WHEN A GENERAL ELECTION IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE, I SHOULD THINK THAT MINISTER'S HEAD WOULD PROBABLY BE CHOPPED OFF, MINE CERTAINLY WOULD BE. I'VE NO IDEA WHEN A GENERAL ELECTION IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE IN BRITAIN, AND I DON'T THINK IF I MAY SAY SO, THE PREMISE OF YOUR QUESTION IS VERY SOUND.

IAN WHITELY, ATV:

GOING BACK TO THE POINT ABOUT STATEMENTS FROM CHINA, PEOPLE HERE OF COURSE ARE ON EDGE YOU MAY HEAR, AS AN INDICATION OF WHAT'S GOING ON: ARE YOU SAYING THAT STATEMENTS COMING OUT OF CHINA ARE NOT IMPORTANT, ARE NOT TRUE, HOW SHOULD PEOPLE REACT TO THESE STATEMENTS?

LORD BELSTEAD: I HAVE NOT SAID EITHER OF THOSE THINGS: I HAVE SIMPLY SAID THAT STATEMENTS MADE OUTSIDE THE NEGOTIATIONS REALLY SHOULD NOT PREJUDICE PEOPLE IN THEIR ANTICIPATION OF WHAT THE NEGOTIATIONS WILL ACHIEVE.

IAN WHITELY:

FOR EXAMPLE, THE LENGTHY STATEMENT GIVEN BY THE FINANCIAL TIMES AFFECTED PEOPLE'S VIEWS COMPLETELY HERE, AS THE MARKET EXPECTED

LORD BELSTEAD: THAT'S PRECISELY WHY I SAID IT IS THE NEGOTIATIONS WHICH COUNT, AND PEOPLE SHOULD KEEP THEIR EYE ON THE BALL, REMAIN STEADY AND WAIT FOR NEWS FROM THE NEGOTIATIONS, IT'S NOT EASY I KNOW.

PHILIP BOWRING, FAR EASTERN ECONOMIC REVIEW:

HAVE THERE ACTUALLY BEEN FACE-TO-FACE TALKS BETWEEN SIR PERCY CRADOCK AND SENIOR CHINESE OFFICIALS AND IF SO, HAVE THESE TALKS BEEN ABOUT THE SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES OR MERELY ABOUT THE FORM IN WHICH THE NEGOTIATIONS SHOULD TAKE PLACE?

LORD BELSTEAD: AGAIN FORGIVE ME, I'M SORRY, I'M GOING OVER THE SAME GROUND AGAIN. I CAN'T START SAYING WHETHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES OR NON-SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES ARE BEING DISCUSSED, BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NEGOTIATIONS THROUGH DIPLOMATIC CHANNELS. THEY'RE TAKING PLACE THEY'RE CONTINUING.

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JPHILIP