TNAG-1172-FCO40-1453-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 23

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Mr Donald

PS/PUS

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

Problem

SECRET

Hren 0401

CHYSO IN RAMANMI tc Mr Elliott, FED

9 JULISCO

See Bly

406

1. To bring Ministers up-to-date on the current position; to

prepare for a meeting between Lord MacLehose and the Prime Minister;

to consider subsequent steps in the run-up to the Prime Minister's

visit to China.

Recommendation

Bu noted

f to see OIR

Mr Mom

2.

I recommend that:

A

247

a) Lord MacLehose be briefed to raise Hong Kong's future,

including the question of sovereignty, when he calls on

the Prime Minister on 23 July;

b) a meeting be arranged on 21 July between the Secretary

of State, Lord MacLehose and senior officials to prepare

for this;

c) consideration be given to arranging a meeting between

the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State and officials

in late July or August.

Background

3.

The summary of my submission of 6 May described the position

up to that date. The main developments since then can be

summarised as follows.

4. The Secretary of State met Lord MacLehose and Sir E Youde

on 11 May. It was agreed that it was too early to start briefing

the Prime Minister and that until she had taken a decision on the

substanace of the question it would be wrong for British officials

/to

SECRET