A
B C
PS/Lord Belstead
PA
Noto
Cell postponed.
7
CONFIDENTIAL
HONG KONG : CALL ON LORD BELSTEAD BY LORD SHEPHERD :
15.00 HOURS ON 22 DECEMBER 1982
1.
Lord Shepherd last called on Lord Belstead on 5 October.
A record of that talk is attached.
2.
On that occasion Lord Shepherd criticised the Prime
Minister's remarks in Hong Kong about the validity of the
treaties. He also proposed a treaty of friendship with China embodying a new constitution for Hong Kong which acknowledged Chinese sovereignty but provided for no change in the Territory's administration for eg 25 years.
3.
He suggested that such an idea might be best put to the Chinese by an intermediary such as Mr Fung King Hey, a leading Hong Kong businessman (Mr Fung appears to be trusted by the Chinese leadership, but this does not necessarily make him a reliable intermediary on our behalf).
4.
Lord Shepherd also asked if Mr Fung could have an assurance from HMG that he could take up residence in the UK were things to go wrong in Hong Kong. A copy of our submission of 5 November and a speaking note on this point are attached. We understand that on 8 December Lord Elton met Lord Shepherd and gave him a letter explaining in general terms the position should such a person wish to come here and apply for British citizenship.
5.
We are not aware of any recent visits by Lord Shepherd to Hong Kong or China. The likely purpose of his call is to hear how the talks on Hong Kong's future are progressing and how Lard Belstead's visit to Hong Kong went.
6.
I shall attend the call.
от
HKK 34/6
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51
7 JAN 1983
DESK
INDEX
R D Clift
22 December 1982
PAISTRY
PA
Action Taken
GB
2
Hong Kong and General Department
CONFIDENTIAL
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.