TNAG-1249-FCO40-1563-Press-reports-on-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 58

CONFIDENTIAL

DD PEKING 050100Z

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CONFIDENTIAL

DESKBY 050100Z

FM FCO 041705Z NOV 83

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неколога

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

TO IMMEDIATE PEKING

TELEGRAM NUMBER 762 OF 4 NOVEMBER

INDEX

AND TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG DESKBY 0501002

FUTURE OF HONG KONG: PRESS STORIES

1.

YOV 1283

MČGISTRY

netiņa. Tiken

CHOLI

MICHAEL JONES, THE SUNDAY TIMES CORRESPONDENT WHO STRINGS FOR THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, HAS TOLD NEWS DEPARTMENT AND THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE THAT HE HAS FIRM INFORMATION ON

TWO ASPECTS OF THE TALKS AS FOLLOWS:

(A)

(B)

HMG HAS 'SET ASIDE' THE QUESTION OF SOVEREIGNTY:

THE TALKS ARE NOW CONCENTRATING ON CONCRET QUESTIONS SUCH AS TEXTILE QUOTAS, NATIONALITY MATTERS AND THE HONG KONG DOLLAR. 2.

JONES ASKED NEWS DEPARTMENT TO COMMENT. THEY DECLINED TO DO SO, EMPHASISING THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF THE TALKS. IT IS CLEAR NEVERTHELESS THAT JONES INTENDS TO PUBLISH A STORY ON THESE LINES IN THE SUNDAY TIMES OF 6 NOVEMBER. HE MAY ALSO PUT SOMETHING INTO THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST.

HOWE

292

See (293)

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

LIMITED

ED/EKO

D/FED

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 ED/PUSD

D/ED/PUSD(MR FLOWER)

RESEARCE DEPT(MR WALKER)

LEGAL ADVISER(SIR IAN SINCLAIR)

PS

PS/LADY YOUNG

PSAR LUCE

PS/PUS

SIR J BULLARD

MR GIFFARD

MR DONALD MR FRIGHT

INDUSTRY

COPIES TO:

(VIA ADR)

NEWS DEPT

MR ROBERTS

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

MR. MARTIN

18

18

ASSESSMENT STAFF

CABINET OFFICE

MR GOODALL CABINET OFFICE MR BRENNAN

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CONFIDENTIAL PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL