TNAG-1167-FCO40-1447-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 170

Hire

1y

0401

SECRET 22 DEC1981

DESK

INDEX

(278)

PP HONG KONG

GRS 305

SECRET

FM FCO 2117002 DEC 81

TO PRIORITY HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NUMBER 974 OF 21 DEC 81

AND TO PRIORITY PEKING (PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR)

PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR AND POLITICAL ADVISER FROM CLIFT

YOUR TELNOS 1098 AND 1105 AND PEKING TELNO 735: FUTURE OF

HONG KONG

265

Y268

1.

THESE COMMENTS WERE VERY HELPFUL.

1264

See Here 040/1

нко очо

1980

2.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS DISCUSSED WITH LPS. THE BRIEF

HAS BEEN REVISED AS A RESULT (TEXT IN MIFT). THE LPS WILL NOT WANT

TO BE DRAWN INTO SUBSTANTIVE DISCUSSION OR BUILD UP THE PM'S

VISIT IN THIS CONTEXT BEFORE WE SEE WHETHER THE CHINESE HAVE

ANYTHING FURTHER TO SAY. IN CONSEQUENCE THE BRIEF

DOES NOT GO AS FAR AS YOU SUGGESTED IN DISCUSSING THE SUBSTANCE OF

THE LEGAL PROBLEM. SECRETARY OF STATE CONSIDERED THAT THE LPS

SHOULD CONCENTRATE ON RECALLING THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S REMARKS IN

PEKING LAST APRIL, AND ON EMPHASISING THAT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES AND

IS LIKELY TO INTENSIFY. PROVIDED THAT THE PRIME MINISTER HAS BY

THEN AGREED ON TARGET DATES FOR A VISIT TO CHINA, THE LPS WOULD

ALSO MENTION THAT SHE WILL WANT TO TAKE UP THE QUESTION WHEN SHE

GOES TO PEKING. BUT WOULD NOT COMMIT US TO SUBSTANTIVE DISCUSSION

UNTIL WE CAN SEE MORE CLEARLY HOW THE LAND WILL LIE NEARER THE

TIME.

!

MINISTERS CONSIDERED THAT IT WOULD BE BEST AT THIS STAGE NOT

TO EXPAND ON THE DIFFICULTIES CAUSED BY THE ENDING OF BRITISH ADMINISTRATION IN THE NEW TERRITORIES IN 1997 OR TO MENTION THAT

HONG KONG WOULD NOT BE VIABLE WITHOUT THE NEW TERRITORIES. THEY

THEY REALISE THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATING THE CHINESE BUT DO NOT

WANT TO RISK A REBUFF BY GOING INTO TOO MUCH DETAIL TOO EARLY. 3. THE BRIEF HOWEVER CONTAINS SOME MATERIAL FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION

IF THE CHINESE APPEAR RECEPTIVE.

4. WE ARE WORKING ON COMMENTARY ON THE LEGAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE

SOVEREIGNTY QUESTION (PARAGRAPH 9 OF YOUR LETTER OF 8 OCTOBER TO

DONALD). WE WILL SEND YOU OUR VIEWS EARLY IN THE NEW YEAR.

CARRINGTON

LIMITED

HKGD

FED

PS

PS/LPS

PS/PUS

SIR E YOUDE

MR DONALD

SECRET