TNAG-1233-FCO40-1546-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 73

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FUTURE OF HONG KONG : INTERVIEW WITH MR R C LEE

1.

·

The attached Asian Wall Street Journal interview is worth reading in full. I have the impression that the questioning of Mr Lee reflects selective briefing done at our request in Washington. If so, this is quite a useful outcome.

2.

In Mr Lee's view China's leaders are still not clear at all about the details of their plan for Hong Kong. Curiously the word 'administration' does not appear at all, though I imagine that when Mr Lee talks about things continuing as before (albeit under Chinese sovereignty) he is taking for granted that Peking and not London will be holding the reins. Perhaps he is intentionally being vague and non-committal on this point.

3.

From sounding pretty confident about a Chinese Hong Kong at the outset, Mr Lee seems to become increasingly uncertain as the questioning becomes more probing, eg on guarantees, non- interference, etc. 'All we can do is hope

something has got

to be done

does say that:

I really don't know....etc etc'. However, he

if the Chinese interfere [in the display of wealth] Hong Kong will be finished;

(a)

(b)

if the banking and legal systems are changed, Hong Kong would collapse;

(c)

if properties are confiscated Hong Kong will be useless;

(d)

it will work provided we get the experts and know-how we need;

/(e)

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