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109
HONG KONG FINANCIAL SECRETARY'S CALL ON VICE PREMIER GU MU : FUTURE OF HONG KONG
1.
The PUS has asked, in his manuscript note on Peking Telegram No 149, whether it was Gu Mu or the Hong Kong Financial Secretary (with the Secretary of State's approval) who raised the question of Hong Kong's future at their meeting on 10 March in Peking.
2. Before the Financial Secretary's visit, HM Ambassador Peking told us that, although the subject of Hong Kong's future would not be raised as such, some of the economic and financial discussions would be relevant and could lead to it (as it happened when Sir Philip Haddon-Cave, the previous Financial Secretary, had visited Peking (Peking Telegram No 8 of 12 February). We agreed, therefore, with Hong Kong and Peking, that, if the subject did come up, it was not the time to discuss specifically the necessity of continued British administration but it would be useful if Mr Bremridge could feed in those financial and economic factors which implied the need for our continued administration. This approach would also pick up the implications of Zhao's acknowledge- ment to the Lord Privy Seal that Hong Kong's prosperity can only be maintained it it continues as a free port and commercial and financial centre. Our telegram was cleared with Under-Secretaries and Sir E Youde and seen by PS/LPS (though not by the Secretary of State). (See FOC Telegram No 68 to Peking of 17 February and Hong Kong Telegram No 183 ot 23 February).
3. It is not clear from Peking Telegram No 149 exactly how the matter came up. However, Mr Bremridge stuck to the agreed line. which was aimed at educating the Chinese on the problem rather than suggesting solutions to them.
16 March 1982
Hulluar
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PP. Ron Clift and General Department
Hong Kong
да Than
I am contar,
MICHAEL PALLISER 14
3.
SECRET
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