TNAG-1167-FCO40-1447-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 108

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SOVIET EMBASSY REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG

1.

Mr E I Safronov, 2nd Secretary at the Soviet Embassy, me on 16 February.

See (73) (83A)

2. He had seen the attached article on Hong Kong in the Financial Times that morning and wanted to know if we could enlarge on the recent spate of Chinese press reports on the future of Hong Kong and on our position.

See 100

3.

I rang him back today. I confirmed that there had been a lot of wild and inaccurate stories recently about the future of Hong Kong and that the latest, that there would be a treaty signed on 1 May, was quite untrue. I said that one of the reasons behind all these reports was probably the visit to China in January of the LPS; another was perhaps the impending change of Governor in Hong Kong. I said we understood that, like us, the Chinese were now focussing on the future of Hong Kong but no-one was expecting any sudden or rapid developments.

4. Mr Safronov, in spite of his excellent English, seemed unwilling to spend much time on the phone. He put no other questions to me but asked if he could come to talk further, either to me or someone else in the Department, about the future of Hong Kong. I said I would see and that we would get back to him in due course.

5.

So far as I am aware, this is the first time the Soviet Embassy here has shown any interest in the future of Hong Kong. I imagine it is not something we would wish to encourage. Unless Mr Safronov returns to the charge, I do not propose to get in touch with him again.

6.

This should be copied to Mr Davies (FED) and Mr Johnson (EESD)

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17 February 1982

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CONFIDENTIAL

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