TNAG-1249-FCO40-1563-Press-reports-on-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 161

Enter (fren Reports) and

to Ms frest

HOFO 043/21

TT PEKING

TT FCO

GR 300

RESTRICTED

TELELETTER

MKK04012

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

23SEP 1783

DSP OFFICEA

INDEX

ACCIS

↑ cm2919

acher / Dinhib /863

21/0941

2215

FROM: A.L. LANG, ASSISTANT SECRETARY, GENERAL DUTIES, HONG KONG

FILE REF: NFR

TO: D. BLUNT, PEKING

COPY TO: W. MORRIS,, HKD

DATED 21 SEPTEMBER 1983

FCO

THE LATEST EDITION OF THE LEFT WING MONTHLY WIDE ANGLE' CARRIES

A ''PERSPECTIVE INTO THE SEPTEMBER HONG KONG TALKS''. IN AN

ACCOUNT OF THE MESSAGE WHICH DENG XIAOPING GAVE TO MR EDWARD HEATH

RECENTLY (AND WHICH THE AUTHOR EXPECTS MR HEATH TO PASS ON TO

THE APPROPRIATE AUTHORITIES). DENG IS SAID TO HAVE INDICATED THAT IF CHINA FAILED TO REEXERCISE SOVEREIGNTY IN 1997, THE PRESENT

LEADERS WOULD FALL. ALTHOUGH SOVEREIGNTY AND ADMINISTRATION WERE

INDIVISIBLE, CHINA WOULD TAKE BRITISH INTERESTS AND FACE INTO CONSIDERATION. THE BRITISH WOULD BE ABLE TO STAY ON AS ADVISERS

AFTER HONG KONG BECOMES A SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION OF CHINA. AT WORST THE BRITISH WOULD SUFFER SOME LOSSES IN REVENUE, TO WHICH

SIR PERCY CRADOCK IS QUOTED AS REPLYING ''THE REVENUES BELONG TO

HONG KONG, AND BRITAIN WILL NOT TAKE THEM AWAY11

2. THE ARTICLE GOES ON TO REITERATE THE FAMILIAR THEME THAT THE

BRITISH ARE PLAYING THE PUBLIC OPINION CARD AS A MEANS OF BRINGING

PRESSURE TO BEAR ON THE NEGOTIATIONS. HOWEVER THEY HAVE OVER-

ESTIMATED THE EXTENT OF THEIR SUPPORT AND RECENT EVENTS, SUCH AS THE RALLY AGAINST PRICE INCREASES, HAVE SHOWN HOW FEW PEOPLE

ARE PREPARED TO WORK IN CONCERT WITH THE GOVERNMENT.

J

3. FOLLOWING THIS LATEST TEST OF STRENGTH, THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAS RESOLVED TO PUT AN END TO BRITISH ILLUSIONS. ANY PROPOSAL

TO EXTEND BRITISH ADMINISTRATION WILL NOT BE ACCEPTABLE AND THE

RESUMED TALKS SHOULD CONCENTRATE ON THE RECOVERY OF SOVEREIGNTY

AND THE MAINTENANCE OF PROSPERITY AFTERWARDS, CONFRONTATION WILL

NOT BE IN THE INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG OR OF BRITAIN

SINCE BRITISH CONSORTIA IN HONG KONG WILL SUFFER. CHINESE CONTACTS

WITH HONG KONG PEOPLE HAVE UNCOVERED A COMMON WISH TO MAINTAIN PROSPERITY AFTER 1997 AND THE FORMULA OF HONG KONG PEOPLE TO

RULE HONG KONG HAS BEEN EVOLVED SPECIFICALLY TO MEET THIS

ASPIRATION. THE AUTHOR BELIEVES THAT HONG KONG PEOPLE CAN DO

A VERY GOOD JOB IN RUNNING THEIR OWN AFFAIRS. THE POLICIES

FOR RUNNING SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGIONS WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED

FOR A LONG TIME.

:

4. THE ARTICLE CONCLUDES BY SAYING THAT MANY TOP CHINESE EXPERTS

HAVE VISITED HONG KONG RECENTLY (EG MA HONG, QIAN JUNRUI, XU DIXIN,

HUAN XIANGAND GU NIANL (ANG). THE AUTHOR WONDERS IF THESE VISITS

ARE A PRELUDE TO EXPERTS FROM BOTH SIDES JOINING THE TALKS AND QUOTES

SOURCES AS SAYING THAT IF THE RESUMED TALKS ON SEPTEMBER 22ND

PROCEED SMOOTHLY, DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN EXPERTS WILL SOON FOLLOW.

230

SIGNED A.L. LANG

NNNN