TNAG-1252-FCO40-1585-Third-countries-and-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 143

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00 PEKING

GRS 240

SECRET

FM FCO 081135Z MAR 83

TO IMMEDIATE PEKING

TELEGRAM NUMBER 135 OF 8 MARCH

AND TO HONG KONG (FOR MCLAREN)

нико4015

9 MAR 1983

Im AF13

FOLLOWING TELEGRAM NOW REPEATED TO YOU AT REQUEST OF HKGD

WAS SENT TO WASHINGTON TELEGRAM NUMBER 376 OF 7 MARCH

G5

FOR GOMERSALL FROM MORRIS

MORRIS

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YOUR TELELETTER OF 3 MARCH: CSIS SEMINAR ON HONG KONG

1. WE DO NOT WISH TO APPEAR UNHELPFUL AND WE FULLY TAKE THE

POINTS IN YOUR PARA 4. WE AGREE TOO THAT IT WILL BE INTERESTING

TO HEAR WHAT OTHERS HAVE TO SAY.

2.

HOWEVER, AS YOU SURMISE, OUR TALKS WITH THE CHINESE AND OUR

POLICY ON HONG KONG'S FUTURE ARE EXTREMELY SENSITIVE SUBJECTS

AND IT WOULD BE QUITE WRONG, PARTICULARLY AT THE PRESENT TIME,

FOR BRITISH OFFICIALS TO ENGAGE IN A DISCUSSION OF THIS KIND, BE

IT ON OR OFF THE RECORD. THERE IS ALSO A GREAT DANGER OF BEING

DRAWN INEVITABLY INTO DISCUSSING SOVEREIGNTY. THIS MUST BE

AVOIDED.

3.

WHILE WE HAVE NO OBJECTION TO YOUR ATTENDING THIS SEMINAR

YOU SHOULD NOT REPEAT NOT DO SO AS A SPEAKER. WE SUGGEST YOU

EXPLAIN THE POSITION IN ADVANCE AND ATTEND AS AN OBSERVER.

HOPE YOU COULD AVOID PARTICIPATING IN THE DISCUSSION.

WE

IF YOU JUDGE IT NECESSARY TO INTERVENE YOU SHOULD LIMIT ANY

CONTRIBUTION TO FACTUAL BACKGROUND, FACTORS AFFECTING CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG, AND OTHER SIMILAR NON-CONTROVERSIAL POINTS.

•

WE REALISE (YOUR PARA 4) THAT REQUESTS OF THIS KIND ARE

LIKELY TO CONTINUE BUT AT PRESENT WE HAVE TO PLAY OUR HAND IN AS

LOW A KEY AS POSSIBLE.

PYM

1

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