TNAG-1237-FCO40-1550-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 10

CONFIDENTIAL

PERSONAL

Kle

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

London SW1A 2AH

13 May 1983

299

Secre

Sir E Youde GCMG MBE

Governor and Commander-in-Chief HONG KONG

Dear Feedly

MKK040||

KIIVED NA RZGY NO. ST

13 MAY 1983

DESK OF INDEX

FUTURE OF HONG KONG: BRIEFING OPPOSITION LEADERS

1.

y KCM1815

I mentioned this in my letter of 14 April. With the Prime Minister's agreement the Secretary of State briefed Mr Steel and Dr Owen on Privy Councillor terms on 5 May. The line taken by Mr Pym was very similar to the one used with the Conservative backbenchers.

2.

Both Mr Steel and Dr Owen seemed relaxed about what they heard and showed understanding of the Government position. It was clear that they were in support of the essential deal which the Government is trying to strike with the Chinese. Both confirmed that they did not see Hong Kong as a likely election issue although Dr Owen said it might conceivably be mentioned if people tried to exploit the Falklands against the Prime Minister, presumably in order to show how differently the Government treated Falkland Islanders from Hong Kongers.

3.

The Secretary of State was not able to see Mr Healey. The election campaign has now held it up. But the intention is to brief him on similar lines in due course.

Zeus

Dicl

R D Clift

Hong Kong and General Department

cc:

Sir P Cradock KCMG HMA, PEKING

Mr Elliott, FED, FCO

PERSONAL CONFIDENTIAL