TNAG-1167-FCO40-1447-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 56

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Mr Morris HKGD

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CONFIDENTIAL

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(83A)

SOVIET EMBASSY REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON THE FUTURE

1.

65

HONG KONG

Thank you for copying to me your minute of 17 February. Mr Safronov had called on Mr Paul on 19 January to discuss China, and I attach a copy of Mr Paul's note of the meeting.

See 186 2.

I agree that we should not encourage members of the Soviet Embassy to take an interest in Hong Kong. Their only objective is to cause the maximum embarrassment to us and the Chinese. In the past the Soviet Union has publicly abused us for our colonial rule of Hong Kong and the Chinese for their connivance at it. Rumour of an agreement on the future naturally cause them to prick up their ears and start hacking out propaganda about the cynicism of sordid Sino/British deals which compromise China's sovereignty or the interests of the people of Hong Kong. The Chinese are naturally riled by allegations of a sell-out.

3.

There is not much we can do about the Soviet propaganda machine. But I do not see why you should waste time on Mr Safronov. Unless EESD see definite advantage in a meeting (and from Mr Smith's minute of 22 February, I do not think they do), I would recommend that you say you are too busy to see him, if he calls again. Perhaps you could politely refer him to appropriate pages of Hansard?

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04011

MAK

Nolox.

24 February 1982

N J Cox

coder Smith, EESD.

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Pas 2/3

Far Eastern Department

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CONFIDENTIAL

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