TNAG-1237-FCO40-1550-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 62

HKK040/1

V 90. 51 € MAY 1983 MAY

FRACISTRY

Action Taken

Mr Clift -

1 HKGD

The Future of Hong Kong:

DESK OFM

INDEX

PA

내

201

CM1615

Briefing of the Opposition

The Secretary of State saw Mr Steel and Dr Owen together in the House on 5 May. He had made it clear beforehand that his intention was to brief them about the position on the future of Hong Kong on Privy Councillor terms. The Secretary of State spoke along the lines agreed. 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 that it might conceivably be mentioned if people were trying to exploit the Falklands against the Prime Minister, presumably in order to show how differently the Government treated Falkland Islanders from Hong Kongers.

The Secretary of State has not yet briefed Mr Healey but hopes to do so soon.

5 May 1983

cc:

PS

PS/Lord Belstead PS/PUS

Mr Giffard

Mr Donald o.r. FED

J.a. Hd

.E. Holmes

(J E Holmes)

978.