TNAG-1172-FCO40-1453-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 75

GPS 422

SECRET

FM HONG KONG 190415Z JUN 82

SECRET

358

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 648 OF 19JUNE

INFO PRIORITY PEKING ( PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR)

357

PERSONAL FOR DONALD FROM GOVERNOR MIPT FUTURE OF HONG KONG.

TOP

OPY HKE

04011

2006

IT WILL BE ESSENTIAL FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF CONFIDENCE THAT THE PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT SHOULD YIELD RESULTS WHICH CAN BE PRESENTED AS A POSITIVE STEP TOWARDS A SATISFACTORY SETTLEMENT. AS SEEN FROM HERE THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENT IS AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT SERIOUS DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE HAVE BEGUN.

2. IT IS FOR CONSIDERATION WHETHER AN ATTEMPT SHOULD BE MADE TO REACH AGREEMENT ON PRINCIPLES TO SERVE AS GUIDELINES FOR THESE DISCUSSIONS. THIS WOULD NOT BE EASY. THE CHINESE WOULD NO DOUBT PROPOSE THAT THE OBJECTIVES SHOULD BE: (A) TO SAFEGUARD CHINA'S SOVEREIGNTY: AND

(B) TO MAINTAIN THE PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG.

T

162416

see (368)

вод

THE DIFFICULTY IS THAT (A) WOULD NOT BE ACCEPTABLE TO US WITHOUT SOME RECOGNITION FROM THE CHINESE THAT THE MEANS TO (3) LIES, FOR THE TIME BEING, IN THE CONTINUATION OF THE PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ADMINISTERING HONG KONG. IT WILL IN ANY CASE BE DIFFICULT TO PERSUADE THE CHINESE TO ACCEPT THIS: AND IT

372

IS CERTAINLY VERY UNLIKELY THAT THEY WOULD CONCEDE IT AT THE OUTSET

OF NEGOTIATIONS.

3. IT MIGHT BE MORE REALISTIC TO AIM FOR AGREEMENT THAT:

(1) THE COMMON OBJECTIVE OF THE TWO SIDES IS TO MAINTAIN THE PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG, AND THEREBY ITS ROLE IN CHINA'S

MODERNISATION AND

(11) CONCRETE MEASURES WILL BE CONSIDERED IN FURTHER DISCUSSIONS,

TAKING ACCOUNT OF THE RESPECTIVE POSITIONS OF THE BRITISH

AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS.

THIS COULD BE SET IN THE FRAMEWORK OF A STATEMENT ABOUT LONGER TERM ECONOMIC COOPERATION, INCLUDING COOPERATION BETWEEN HONG KONG

AND THE NEIGHBOURING REGIONS OF CHINA.

4. AN AGREEMENT OF THIS KIND COULD BE MADE PUBLIC. IN SPEAKING TO THE PRESS THE PRIME MINISTER COULD SAY THAT THERE WAS NO

TIMETABLE FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE TALKS BUT THAT BOTH SIDES WERE

AGREED ON THE OBJECTIVE. SHE COULD DEAL WITH AWKWARD QUESTIONS (E G ON HMG'S POSITION ON SOVEREIGNTY OVER HONG KONG) BY SAYING THAT THESE WERE MATTERS WHICH WOULD BE DEALT WITH IN THE

NEGOTIATIONS.

YOUDE

LIMITED

HD/HK&GD

373

377

HD/FED

HD/PUSD

PS

FS/TORD BELSTEAD

PS/PUS

SIR I SINCLAIR

MR GIFFARD

MR DONALD

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