TNAG-1239-FCO40-1552-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 176

8 JULY 1983

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GRS 669

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO 081530Z JUL 83

CONFIDENTIAL

TO ROUTINE CERTAIN MISSIONS AND DEPENDENT TERRITORIES GUIDANCE TELEGRAM NUMBER 083 OF 8 JULY 1983

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

1.

3876

-

1

HKK040/1

nam

патоло

THIS GUIDANCE CONTAINS BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON RECENT ↓ Colr

DEVELOPMENTS AND A LINE TO TAKE IN ANSWERING QUESTIONS.

YOU

MAY DRAW FREELY ON THIS EXCEPT WHERE OTHERWISE INDICATED BUT

YOU SHOULD CONTINUE TO AVOID INITIATING DISCUSSION ON THE SUBJECT.

LINE TO TAKE

2.

MEETINGS TO FOLLOW UP THE PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT THROUGH DIPLOMATIC CHANNELS BEGAN LAST OCTOBER AND ARE CONTINUING. ON

1 JULY THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT WAS ISSUED IN PEKING AND LONDON:

'FOLLOWING THE DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE LEADERS OF THE

TWO COUNTRIES IN SEPTEMBER 1982 AND SUBSEQUENT USEFUL

EXCHANGES, IT HAS BEEN AGREED THAT A SECOND PHASE OF

THE TALKS ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG WILL BEGIN IN

PEKING ON 12 JULY 1983.'

3. THE CHINESE SIDE HAVE ANNOUNCED THAT THEIR DELEGATION FOR

THIS SESSION WILL BE LED BY VICE FOREIGN MINISTER YAO GUANG.

THE BRITISH TEAM WILL BE LED BY HM AMBASSADOR SIR P CRADOCK:

THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG WILL ALSO TAKE PART.

4.

THE CONTENT OF THE TALKS MUST REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL. NO

TIMETABLE HAS BEEN SET, BUT WE ARE PRESSING ON AS QUICKLY AS

WE CAN.

5.

AS PART OF A CONTINUING PROCESS OF CONSULTATION, THE

GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG ACCOMPANIED BY THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS

OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL VISITED LONDON FOR TALKS WITH MINISTERS

ON 4 AND 5 JULY. THEY HAD MEETINGS WITH THE PRIME MINISTER,

THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY, AND MR LUCE. WE

REAFFIRMED OUR COMMITMENT TO HONG KONG AND OUR AIM OF SEEKING

ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE FUTURE, ACCEPTABLE TO PARLIAMENT, CHINA

AND THE PUBLIC OF HONG KONG. (THIS AIM WAS ALSO EXPRESSED IN

THE QUEEN'S SPEECH). WE ALSO EMPHASISED THE IMPORTANCE WE

ATTACH TO THE ADVICE OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WHICH WE SHALL

CONTINUE TO SEEK THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE TALKS.

6. IF ASKED ABOUT THE PROSPECTS, YOU COULD REFER TO THE

SECRETARY OF STATE'S SPEECH IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS ON 28 JUNE:

'THE BACKGROUND OF GOOD RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED

KINGDOM AND CHINA, AND OUR COMMON INTEREST IN ENSURING

THE FUTURE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF THE PEOPLE OF

HONG KONG GIVE GROUNDS FOR CONFIDENCE THAT WE SHALL BE

ABLE TO REACH A SATISFACTORY NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT.'

CONFIDENTIAL

/ONLY FOR

See (391)