TNAG-1236-FCO40-1549-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 49

CODE 18.77

Mr Thomson FED

K 258

SECRET

Reference. HKK 040/1 172

040/11.72)

HKK 040!!

1

MAR 1983

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

1.

i AFB 20e 184

m

The Governor mentioned to Mr Clift last month that there was a story going round Hong Kong to the effect that the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) would be discussing an amendment to Article 31 of the Constitution (on SARS) in April or May. I should be grateful to know whether you, Research Department, or Peking can shed any light on this.

2.

I should also be glad to know the dates of the next Chinese NPC, which I think is due in the early (?) summer. If, as has been suggested here, the Chinese make some sort of pronouncement at the Conference about Hong Kong's future, is it possible to envisage, from past experience, when or in what circumstances such a pronouncement might be made?

1 March 1983

W Morris

Hong Kong and General Department K 221

233 3722

cc: Mr Walker, Research Dept.

SECRET