TNAG-1253-FCO40-1586-Third-countries-and-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 177

ESSENTIAL FACTS

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

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THIS IS A COPY

THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN RETAINED IN THE DEPARTMENT UNDER

SECTION 3 (4) OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT 1958

1.

The Chinese Premier, Zhao Ziyang, visited Australia last April. In advance of the visit the Prime Minister agreed that the Australians be given limited briefing about Hong Kong's future:

(a)

(b)

in case Premier Zhao raised the question with the Australians;

because the Australians have sizeable interests in Hong

Kong and good and growing relations with China.

Mrs Thatcher did not agree to the Australians being briefed in detail on the progress of the talks.

2.

The Australian Foreign Minister, Mr Hayden, and the Cabinet Secretary, Sir G Yeend, were briefed by Sir J Mason on 14 April. (Our telegram number 121 and Canberra telegram number 188 attached refer) In the event, however, there were no substantive discussions about Hong Kong during Premier Zhao's

visit.

3.

The Australians have not been kept as closely in the picture as the Americans on the state of the negotiations, but have been kept generally informed

ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL MATTERS

4.

Real growth of the Gross Domestic Product in Hong Kong in

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