TNAG-1233-FCO40-1546-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 66

GR 180

SECRET

SECRET

FM HONG KONG 131105Z JAN 83

TELEGRAM NUMBER 58 OF 13 JANUARY

TO IMMEDIATE F C O

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

HITK 027/2

(16)

MY TELNO 50: FUTURE OF HONG KONG

нки cuoli

1 3 JAN 198%

Afroll

1. YOU WILL HAVE SEEN FROM AGENCY REPORTS AND FROM MY TELNO 55 THAT LIAO CHENGZHI HAS TOLD THE LATEST GROUP OF HONG KONG VISITORS

TO PEKING THAT CHINA HAS PUT ITS PROPOSALS ON THE FUTURE TO

BRITAIN AND IS AWAITING A BRITISH RESPONSE: AND THAT (FOLLOWING

THE FOOTBALL METAPHOR LIAO APPARENTLY USED) CHINA CAN'T GO

CHASING AFTER THE BALL. WE SHALL NO DOUBT GET A FULER ACCOUNT

OF WHAT LIAO SAID WHEN THE GROUP RETURN TO HONG KONG, AND THEY

· COULD BE RECEIVED BY ANOTHER CHINESE LEADER LATER IN THEIR VISIT.

BUT WHAT HAS ALREADY EMERGED LENDS SUPPORT TO THE THESIS THAT THE

CHINESE STRATEGY IS TO CONTINUE TO PUT PRESSURE ON US THROUGH DIRECT CONTACTS WITH THE HONG KONG POPULATION AND IN THE MEANTIME

TO AVOID SUBSTANTIVE TALKS. THEY ARE NOW PUTTING IT ABOUT HERE

THAT THE TALKS ARE 'STALLED''.

2. IN MY VIEW THIS LATEST CHINESE MOVE STRENGTHENS THE CASE WHICH

THE AMBASSADOR AND I HAVE MADE FOR AN EARLY MEETING IN LONDON TO

REVIEW THE POSITION WE ARE IN AND CONSIDER THE OPTIONS AVAILABLE.

IT HAS INCREASED THE UNEASE OF UMELCO. I WILL BE SEEING THEM

TOMORROW BEFORE MY VISIT TO LONDON AND WILL REPORT FURTHER ON

THEIR REACTIONS.

YOUDE

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

LIMITED

HD/HR&D

COPIES TO

SIR I SINCLAIR

HD/FED

HD/PLANNING STAFF

HD/PUSD

PS

MR ROBERTS

MR COLES

MR MARTIN

LEGAL ADVISER

NEWS D

PS/LORD BELSTEAD

MR HURD

NO 10 DOWNING STREET

ASSESSMENTS STAFF

CABINET OFFICE

~PS/PUS

BELSTEAD

MR GIFFARD

MR DONALD

SIRT BULLARD

SECRET

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