TNAG-1161-FCO40-1441-Visit-by-Margaret-Thatcher--UK-Prime-Minister--to-Hong-Kong--1982 — Page 104

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18-77

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Mr Cox

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K 255

Reference

Mren 026/5

84819

(...2.4.1.

PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO CHINA : ADVANCE INTERVIEW WITH CHINESE CORRESPONDENTS

1.

You asked for a contribution from us on question 5 and question 4 of the list submitted by Xianhua. Mr Kydd's letter to you of 2 September refers.

2.

In the main we hope that the Prime Minister will concentrate on UK/China issues other than Hong Kong. You may wish to include as part of an opening statement that the Prime Minister might make at the start of the interview a passage to the effect that:

'you will understand that it would be neither proper nor courteous for me to comment on any subjects in detail in advance of my private discussions with my Chinese hosts'.

Specifically on Hong Kong we should as far as possible stick to the following line:

3.

'My visit to China will offer an opportunity for an exchange of views on a number of international and bilateral matters. Mr Humphrey Atkins, then Lord Privy Seal, had useful discussions with Chinese leaders in January of this year on a wide range of topics. I look forward to continuing this dialogue.

'I am sure that the future of Hong Kong will be one of the subjects discussed. I know that both we and the Government of the PRC attach great significance to Hong Kong's continued stability and prosperity.

8 September 1982

W Morris

Hong Kong and General Department WH 312

233 3988

cc: Miss Whiting, News Dept