TNAG-1236-FCO40-1549-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 86

CONFIDENTIAL

OO GOVERNOR HONG KONG

GRS 536

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO 071838Z FEB 83

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NUMBER 121 OF 7 FEBRUARY.

267

HONG KONG GOV OFFICE.

нкад

FOLLOWING RECEIVED FROM HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE AS TELEGRAM

NUMBER HK2218.

TO IMMEDIATE GOVERNOR HONG KONG

SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS (FOR MR MASEFIELD)

COPY TO MR DICK CLIFT (FCO, HKGD)

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WE SPOKE RE YOUR HAB 10/83 DD 7.2.83 ON 'WEN WEI**

REPORT. THE CHINESE EMBASSY USUALLY HOSTS TO TWO RECEPTIONS

AT CHINESE NEW YEAR: ONE FOR CHINESE PROFESSIONALS AND

FRIENDLY BRITISH PEOPLE AND THE OTHER FOR GENERAL CHINESE

COMMUNITY CONTACTS. HKGO REPRESENTATIVES ARE USUALLY

INVITED TO THE LATTER.

2. THIS YEAR THE FIRST RECEPTION TOOK PLACE ON FRIDAY

4.2.83 (PM): VICTOR CHANN AND I WILL ATTEND TOMORROW

EVENING (8.2.83).

3. FROM A CONTACT, WE LEARNED THAT LAST FRIDAY AMBASSADOR KE HUA ADDRESSED GUESTS FOR HALF AN HOUR, 20 MINUTES OF WHICH

CENTERED ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG AS FOLLOWS:

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(A) ON 30.6.1997 BRITISH HONG KONG FLAG WOULD BE LOWERED,

TO BE REPLACED BY THE CHINESE FLAG.

(B) HONG KONG WOULD BE GOVERNED BY HONG KONG PEOPLE AND

CHINA WOULD NOT SEND ANY OFFICIALS.

(C) THE CAPITALIST SYSTEM WOULD BE MAINTAINED AND FOREIGN

INVESTMENTS PROTECTED (CHINA'S ESTIMATE OF SUCH INVESTMENTS WAS 30 PERCENT U S, 30 PERCENT JAPANESE AND 10 PERCENT

BRITISH).

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CONFIDENTIAL