TNAG-1248-FCO40-1562-Press-reports-on-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 87

DD WASHINGTON 141500Z

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CONFIDENTIAL

DESKBY 141500Z

FM FCO 141223Z JULY 83

TO IMMEDIATE WASHINGTON

CONFIDENTIAL

TELEGRAM NUMBER 1192 OF 14 JULY

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MKKO90/2

RECEIVED

19 JUL11983

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FOR PRIVATE SECRETARY

FOLLOWING TELEGRAM NOW REPEATED TO YOU AT REQUEST OF DEPARTMENT

WAS SENT TO PEKING TELEGRAM NUMBER 444 OF 14/7

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

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THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG

1.

THE GUARDIAN OF 14 JULY CONTAINS AN ARTICLE BY JOHN GITTINGS

SPECULATING INTER ALIA THAT AT THE END OF THE FIRST SESSION OF

TALKS IT APPEARS LIKELY THAT BRITAIN IS WILLING TO CONCEDE

SOVEREIGNTY OVER HONG KONG.

2.

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THE ARTICLE ALSO SAYS THAT A BRITISH DIPLOMAT IN PEKING HAD

' TACITLY ACCEPTED THE CHINESE POSITION' ON THE NON-REPRESENTATION

OF HONG KONG IN THE TALKS, EXPLAINING THAT 'THE PEOPLE OF HONG

KONG WILL NOT HAVE A DIRECT VOICE IN THE NEGOTIATIONS - WE WILL

SEEK THEIR ADVICE AND SO I IMAGINE WILL THE CHINESE NOR WILL

THEY HAVE ANY VOTE ON THE RESULTS. THAT IS JUST THE WAY IT IS'.

3. THE ARTICLE SAYS THAT DURING THIS CONVERSATION THE

DIPLOMAT SAID THAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WOULD NOT HAVE THE

OPPORTUNITY TO APPROVE OR REJECT THE RESULTS OF NEGOTIATIONS.

4. GRATEFUL FOR URGENT CLARIFICATION, DESKBY 141230Z, TO DEAL

WITH POSSIBLE PALIAMENTARY INTEREST THIS AFTERNOON.

HOWE

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CONFIDENTIAL