TNAG-1249-FCO40-1563-Press-reports-on-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 22

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4. THE NEW EVENING POST (COMMUNIST) IN ITS EDITORIAL ON 22

NOVEMBER SAID THAT TWO BRITISH CABINET MINISTERS, MR PETER WALKER AND LORD COCKFIELD, HAVE VISITED CHINA WITHIN A MONTH. THIS

DEMONSTRATED A WIDE SCOPE FOR SINO/BRITISH CO-OPERATION. HOWEVER,

CHINA AS A SOVEREIGN STATE HAD THE RESPONSIBILITY TO DRAW UP A

POLICY FOR THE PRESERVATION OF HONG KONG'S STABILITY AND PROSPERITY.

BRITAIN COULD MAKE A POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION. SOME PEOPLE WERE

WORRIED THAT THEY WOULD LOOSE THEIR PRIVILEGES AND SOUGHT TO

FIGHT FOR THE RETENTION OF SOVEREIGNTY AND ADMINISTRATION WHICH

DO NOT BELONG TO BRITAIN: SUCH MOVES MADE NO SENSE AND WOULD

LEAD NOWEHRE.

5. PARA 2 OF MY TELNO 1786 OMITTED TO MENTION THAT THE EXPRESS

(-INDEPENDENT) ALSO QUOTED THE SAME SOURCES AS HAVING CONFIRMED ''

THAT THE PRIME MINISTER HAD SENT A LETTER TO THE CHINESE LEADERS

VHA SHIR P. CRADOCK. THE SOURCES CONSIDERED THAT, ALTHOUTH THE

LETTER WAS INDICATIVE OF A SOFTENING OF THE BRITISH ATTITUDE,

BRITA-IN WOULD NOT BACK DOWN EASILY.

YOUDE

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

LIMITED

ED/KO

ED/FED

ED/PUSD

COPIES TO: (VIA DISTR. ROOM)

SIR PHILIP MOORE BUCKINGHAM PALACE PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL PS/HOME SECRETARY

PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL

PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND

ED/PLANNING STAFF

D/HD/PUSD (MR FLOWER)

RESEARCH DEPT(MR WALKER)

LEGAL ADVISER (SIR IAN SINCLAIR)

PS

PS/LADY YOUNG-

PSAR LUCE

PS/PUS

SIR J BULLARD

MR GIFFARD

MR DONALD

MR WRIGHT

RESTRICTED

INDUSTRY

COPIES TO:

(VIA ADR)

NEWS DEPT

MR ROBERTS

MR BURROWS LEGAL ADVISERS MR COLES NO 10 DOWNING ST SIR A PARSONS

MR MARTIN

ASSESSMENT STAFF

CABINET OFFICE

HR GOODALL CABINET OFFICE HR BRENNAN

PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL