TNAG-1252-FCO40-1585-Third-countries-and-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 15

CONFIDENTIAL

Foreign and Commonwealth Office London SW1A 2AH

CAK Cullimore Esq

Canberra

HKK040/5

VAN SESET NO. 51 2 0 APR 1983

Telephone 01-

IND

Your reference"

Our reference

Date

(144)

PA

Action Ta

НКК 040/5

сняв

n

See (155

дем

Dear Cullimore,

AUSTRALIA AND THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG

125

1. Thank you for your letters of 17 and 25 March to Dick Clift enclosing material on Ranald MacDonald's interview with Zhao Ziyang and his speech at the CPPCC. We had not seen the interview, and have copied it to Robin McLaren (the Political Adviser) in Hong Kong. Taken together with material Hong Kong have sent us, it all helps to make up the picture, although neither MacDonald's interview with Zhao nor Chiu's with Liao Chengzhi threw up any new points in the Chinese attitude.

2. I note what Reese said about the Australian Government not being involved in MacDonald's visit, although I do wonder whether he might have cleared his speech with someone, perhaps with the previous Administration. At any rate, Australian interest is understandable and it does no harm if people like MacDonald, with business interests in Hong Kong, stress to the Chinese the importance they attach to the maintenance of stability and prosperity

in Hong Kong, which has been and is largely dependent on the existing system of administration.

3. Perhaps I should also just acknowledge, albeit belatedly, your letter of 6 January to Kit Burdess about Australian Government interest in briefing material on Hong Kong's future. As you may be aware, there has sife been separate correspondence about this, both in general terms and specifically in relation to Premier Zhao's visit.

Cc:

ист

Your in wh

Warnich Hor

W Morris

Hong Kong and General Dept

R P Margolis Esq, DPA Hong Kong

A C Galsworthy Esq, Peking

Mr White (SPD)

Mr Thomson (FED)

CONFIDENTIAL

1Page 16