TNAG-1239-FCO40-1552-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 82

Sir E Youde GCMG MBE

SECRET

Governor and Commander in Chief HONG KONG

Ele

EG 423

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

London SW1A 2AH

15 July 1983

HKK040

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

. AUG 1983

HEGISTRY

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

Action Taken

내

EMILY

FUTURE OF HONG KONG: 'ACCEPTABILITY' OF PROPOSALS TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG

1. As you know, Ministers have focussed recently on the implications of the phrase 'acceptable to the people of Hong Kong' which is now an integral part of our description of our aim in the negotiations. They asked us to outline what had been said publicly on this subject, and how we proposed that acceptability might be measured.

2. I attach a draft paper prepared by the Department; which has been shown on a preliminary basis to the Secretary of State and Mr Luce. They have endorsed the proposals in the last paragraph of the paper that steps should be taken to educate Parliamentary opinion on the facts of the situation. Mr Luce has asked us to prepare replies to a number of questions (list attached) that he thinks may be asked by MPs, either in Parliament or at private briefings. We are now working on these.

3. I should be grateful for any comments that you have on the paper and for any suggestions on replies to Mr Luce's questions (or to any other questions you think likely).

cc: Sir P Cradock CMG, Peking

Mr Donald (without enc.)

SECRET

R D Clift

Hong Kong Department