TNAG-1171-FCO40-1452-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 119

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WAS

BROADLY SENSIBLE. WHILE THE QUESTION OF SOVEREIGNTY WAS

OBVIOUSLY A DIFFICULT ONE HE WAS CONTENT TO LEAVE IT TO SIR E YOUDE TO USE HIS DISCRETION IN BRIEFING VISITORS TO PEKING.

MEANWHILE HE AGREED THAT IT WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE

EMBASSY TO MAKE ANY APPROACH TO THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT. HE DID

NOT EXCLUDE THE POSSIBILITY OF USING INTERMEDIARIES (SUCH AS MR HEATH) TO HELP IN GETTING A MESSAGE OVER TO THE CHINESE, BUT HE WOULD TAKE ADVICE ON THIS.

SUMMRARY OF POINTS AGREED:

7. (A) A FURTHER MEETING WOULD BE ARRANGED FOR OFFICIALS TO

GIVE THE SECRETARY OF STATE MORE DETAILED BRIEFING ON THE

PROBLEM. THE SECRETARY OF STATE REGARDED THE QUESTION AS

IMPORTANT AND URGENT AND THIS SHOULD NOT BE TOO LONG DELAYED.

(B) THE SECRETARY OF STATE WOULD SEE MR HEATH AT ABOUT THE

BEGINNING OF JUNE. MEANWHILE MR HEATH WOULD BE ASKED SIMPLY

TO EXPLAIN TO THE CHINESE AMBASSADOR THAT HE HAD PASSED ON

DENG XIAOPING1S VIEWS WHICH ARE UNDER CONSIDERATION.

(C) A MEETING BETWEEN THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND THE

PRIME MINISTER SHOULD BE ARRANGED WHEN THE FALKLANDS

CRISIS AND OTHER BUSINESS ALLOWED. SIR M MACLEHOSE

WOULD ATTEND AND SIR E YOUDE WOULD PROBABLY COME BACK

FROM HONG KONG FOR THE MEETING.

(D) MEANWHILE SIR E YOUDE WOULD KEEP IN CLOSE TOUCH WITH

INTENDING BUSINESS AND OTHER VISITORS TO PEKING AND USE

HIS DISCRETION IN BRIEFING THEM.

SIGNED A E DONALD

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