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4. MR HEATH WAS INCLINED TO BE SCEPTICAL ABOUT THE BRITISH
POSITION. I EXPLAINED THE STRENGTH OF FEELING IN HONG KONG, AND
PARTICULARLY IN EXCO, THAT BRITAIN SHOULD BE SEEN TO BE DOING ITS
BEST FOR THE FIVE MILLION INHABITANTS FOR WHOM WE WERE MORALLY
RESPONSIBLE AND WHOSE LIVES WOULD BE PROFOUNDLY AFFECTED IF WE
FAILED TO FIND AN ACCEPTABLE SOLUTION.
5. MR HEATH PROBED HARD ABOUT OUR OBJECTIVES IN THE TALKS AND
HOW THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT ENVISAGED THE PRECISE ADMINISTRATIVE
ARRANGEMENTS FOR HONG KONG AFTER 1997. WE STUCK HARD TO THE LINE
THAT THIS WOULD ONLY EMERGE IN THE COURSE OF THE NEGOTIATIONS.
MR HEATH SAID THAT HE ALREADY HAD AN APPOINTMENT WITH DENG
XIAO-PING AT THE START OF HIS VISIT TO CHINA. HE ARRIVES IN
PEKING ON 30 AUGUST. HE ALSO SAID THAT UMELCO HAD INVITED HIM
TO LUNCH WHEN HE VISITS HONG KONG.
6.
7. WE ALSO TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO IMPRESS ON MR HEATH'S TWO
ADVISERS, WHO WILL BE ACCOMPANYING HIM ON HIS CHINA TRIP, THE IMPORTANCE OF MR HEATH GIVING SUOPORT TO THE TOUGH BRITISH
NEGOTIATING POSITION. HIS ADVISERS THOUGHT THAT HE WOULD SPEAK
HELPFULLY, THEY AND MR HEATH ACCEPTED THE NEED FOR THE STRICTEST
CONFIDENCE IN RESPECT OF THE BRIEFING.
WHITNEY #
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
TIMEMWEND
COPIES TO:
ED/EKO
ED/FED
MR BURROWS
ED/PLANNING STAFF
MR MARTIN
ED/PUSD
PS
MR FLOWER
MR COLES
PS/LADY YOUNG
PS/MR LUCE
PS/PUS
SIR J BULLARD
MR GIFFARD
MR DONALD
MR WRIGHT
STR. I SINCLAIR LEGAL ADVISER
LEGAL ADVISERS
ASSESSMENTS STAFF CABINET OFFICE
PUSD
NO 10 DOWNING ST
SIR A PARSONS 11
П
MR WALKER, RESEARCH DEPT
MR ROBERTS
NEWS D
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