TNAG-1161-FCO40-1441-Visit-by-Margaret-Thatcher--UK-Prime-Minister--to-Hong-Kong--1982 — Page 110

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PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT: ADVANCE INTERVIEW WITH CHINESE

CORRESPONDENTS

1.

FED have asked for a contribution from us on question 5 and possibly also on question 4 of the attached.

2.

In the main I think that the Prime Minister should concentrate on UK/China issues other than Hong Kong. However, since we do have a line agreed by Lord Belstead last month on the future of Hong Kong for use in interviews of this kind I see no harm in Mr Cox drawing on it. A copy of the version agreed is attached.

3.

Given that the interview is with Chinese rather than Japanese correspondents I think the first two sentences of the second paragraph would benefit from a little stiffening to read as follows:

4.

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

1

The final sentence of that paragraph could go into a short statement that the Prime Minister makes at the beginning of the interview to cover all subjects, not just Hong Kong's future.

CODE 18-77

SS 8/78

م الله

7 September 1982

W Morris