TNAG-1247-FCO40-1561-Press-reports-on-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 53

NOTE TO PRESS OFFICERS

Entir

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

MKKC040/2 нккою

KAINED IN KADRY NO. 57

13 MAY 1983

INDS

TRY

C ́on Taker

CH17/5

The Hong Kong press are today carrying a story to the effect that talks

would begin in Peking next Friday, 20 May, after agreement on the basis of the Chinese formula ie the UK would recognise Chinese sovereignty over

the whole of Hong Kong. The Governor was awaiting instructions from

London on whether he should attend. The report also mentions a senior

official in the FOO stating that because the British side was no longer

insisting on sovereignty the two sides could proceed to the necessary

arrangements for the transfer.

LINE TO TAKE

>

No

Discussions with the Chinese are continuing and are confidential.

officials of the FCO or any other Government Department have made any

statement on the talks. There were no plans at the moment for the Governor

to visit Peking. He would, as we have already announced, go when the

talks reached an appropriate stage.

The Hong Kong spokesman will add that the newspaper reports are not an accurate representation of the state of the talks or of the British position. People should not be misled by what they have heard outside

the talks. The only authentic information is that which emerged from the

talks themselves.

IAR

13.5.83

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