TNAG-1252-FCO40-1585-Third-countries-and-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 16

CONFIDENTIAL

File

(144)

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

London SW1A 2AH

File Ref: 040/5

RJT McLaren Esq CMG

Political Adviser HONG KONG

Dear Rotrin

: A ROWN HEIN

21 April 1983

NKK040|5

༡、,!

2 3 APR 1983

INDWA

AUSTRALIAN OFFICIALS' VIEWS ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG

1.

Attached is a copy of a minute by Nigel Inkster, Peking, which you may have seen already.

'See (143)

2.

This is not so much

Para 3 we find rather disturbing. because the Chinese still seem to believe that we make vast sums of money out of Hong Kong, but more that an Australian official, ie Klintworth, should be going to the NCNA to ask them what they think the place is worth to HMG.

3.

I imagine that either you or Richard Margolis see Klintworth from time to time. I should be grateful if someone could have a quiet word with him sometime. We now provide the Australians with a good deal of briefing on the future and it would be more helpful if, in return, they were to make it clear to the Chinese that we do not make money of this sort out of Hong Kong, rather than implying, by asking the NCNA for a figure, that we do.

cc: N Inkster Esq

PEKING

Dich

R D Clift

Hong Kong and General Department

CONFIDENTIAL