TNAG-1242-FCO40-1555-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 49

CONFIDENTITOP COPY

GRS 100

CONFIDENT:FAL

FM HONG KONG 100935Z OCT 83

TO IMMEDIATE PEKING

TELEGRAM NUMBER 585 OF 10 OCTOBER

INFO PRIORITY F C O

MKK040/1

RECEIVED IN REGIS Y

Ï 1983

(596

FCO TELNO 653 TO YOU: LORD RHODES

Jaker

4.

CHIR/10

1. WE UNDERSTAND THAT LORD RHODES IS DUE BACK IN HONG KONG ON 12 OCTOBER AFTER HIS VISIT TO CHINA.

THE PRESS ARE LIKELY TO SEEK HIM OUT IN ORDER TO DISCOVER WHETHER THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG WAS RAISED IN HIS DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE. THERE HAVE ALREADY BEEN SOME ENQUIRIES.

2. WE ARE PREPARED F NECESSARY TO SPEAK TO LORD RHODES TO REINFORCE THE POMNT MADE BY CLAFT ABOUT THE DELICACY OF THE SH-TUATION OVER THE FUTURE. IT WOULD HOWEVER BE HELPFUL TO KNOW WHO HE SAW AND WHETHER THE SUBJECT OF HONG KONG CAME UP.

YOUDE

LIMITED

HKD

FED

PS

PS/LADY YOUNG PS/ MR LUCE PS/ MR WHITNEY PS/ PUS

MR GIFFARD

MR DONALD

CONFIDENTIAL

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