TNAG-1169-FCO40-1449-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 109

GRS 150

UNCLASSIFIED

DESKBY 300830Z

FM HONG KONG 300745Z MAR 82

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 295 OF 30 MARCH

*

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R. MC

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YOURTELNO 204: PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION TO CHINA AND HONG KONG. THE MAIN TOPIC DISCUSSED AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE, AT WHICH MR DU CANN FIELDED MOST OF THE QUESTIONS, WAS THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG.

OTHER SUBJECTS MENTIONED BRIEFLY WERE NAVAL COOPERATION, TRADE,

STUDENTS' FEES AND THE NATIONALITY ACT.

2. MR DU CANN DWELT AT SOME LENGTH ON THE NEED FOR NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN BRITAIN AND CHINA ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG. HE SAID

THAT HE AND HIS COLLEAGUES WOULD PRESS FOR SUCH NEGOTIATIONS

ON THEIR RETURN. MR DU CANN AT ONE STAGE REFERRED TO THE CONTACTS WHICH HAD DEVELOPED, SINCE THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT TO CHINA IN 1979 AS 'NEGOTIATIONS''. AFTER SOME PROMPTING FROM HIS FELLOW MPS, HE AMENDED THIS TO ''DISCUSSIONS''. THE ONLY OTHER SIGNIFICANT

POINT MENTIONED IN THE CONFERENCE WAS THAT WHATEVER PROPOSALS

EVENTUALLY EMERGED, THESE WOULD HAVE TO BE FULLY DEBATED IN

PARLIAMENT.

MACLEHOSE

Seeflor

169

LIMITED

HK & GD FED PS/LPS PS/PUS

MR GIFFARD

MR URE

COPIES TO:

HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE, LONDON

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