TNAG-1252-FCO40-1585-Third-countries-and-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 17

attached

CODE 18-77

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Mr Gift

HKK 040/5

Reference

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MKK040/5

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143

See (198)

KAM*

cc: Mr Cox, FED (with encls)

2 3 APR 1983

BETRY

CH9/5

FUTURE OF HONG KONG:

AUSTRALIAN VIEWS

1. Please see Mr Inkster's minute of 29 March (I briefed him on the Future before he went to Peking earlier this year).

2.

Para 3 is curious. It suggests that the Chinese still believe that we make vast sums of money out of Hong Kong. This is not particularly surprising. However, I do not like the idea of Australian diplomats going round asking the NCNA what they think Hong Kong is worth to us! This is not helpful.

3. Subject to your views and those of FED, I think we might drop Hong Kong and Peking a line. A draft is attached.

20 April 1983

wh

W Morris HKGD

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