TNAG-1253-FCO40-1586-Third-countries-and-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 151

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FUTURE OF HONG KONG: BRIEFING THE AUSTRALIANS

1.

I attach a draft submission and letter to No 10 about bringing the Australians more fully into our confidence. Mr Hayden's likely visit to Hong Kong (see the two telegrams attached) is a useful peg on which to hang the recommendation. If you think the drafts are on the right lines I will resubmit to you in final form.

2.

While on the Australians, you may like to glance at the attached assessment by them of the future of Hong Kong (obtained, in confidence, by our Assessments Staff from the Australians here). Most of it is as we would expect, but there are one or two odd points in the first part ((i) to (v)) which seem to me to reinforce the need for bringing them more fully into our confidence.

3.

That said, of course the Australians have their own good relations with the Chinese to consider, so I do not think we should place too much weight on the likelihood of their speaking up on our behalf.

13 June 1983

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W Morris

Hong Kong Department

MKK04015

RECHIVED IN RAND 16. SI 17 JUN 1983

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