TNAG-1253-FCO40-1586-Third-countries-and-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 33

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Mr Morris

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Reference....

FUTURE OF HONG KONG: US EMBASSY BRIEFING

1.

2218

Miss Eleanor Sutter of the US Embassy called on Mr Clift this morning for a briefing on the current state of play.

2.

Mr Clift explained that since Miss Sutter's last call upon you, we had moved on from the stage where the Chinese had been insisting upon a transfer of sovereignty as a pre-condition to further progress. An agenda for the talks had been agreed without this pre-condition. It had been made plain to the Chinese that any transfer of sovereignty did not lie within the Prime Minister's gift. It would require Parliamentary approval and satisfactory arrangements would have to be agreed.

3. The three sessions of talks lasting two days each had all been conducted by Yao Guang. The talks had been amicable. The Chinese seemed now to be behaving better: there had been less leaks and less propaganda pressure. Short statements had been agreed at the end of each two-day session.

4. The Chinese had been tough in the talks; tough on sovereignty. HMG's main objective had been to explain to the Chinese that Hong Kong was a complicated place where confidence was fragile. The basic facts had been conveyed to the Chinese through a series of papers. It was difficult to assess the degree of effect this educating process might have. The talks were now adjourned. Yao Guang would be visiting Scandinavia and HMA Peking and the Governor were on leave. The next round was scheduled for 22/23 September. HMA Peking and the Governor would be having meetings with Ministers in London in the first week of September.

8 August 1983

cc: Mr Clift

David G. Blunt

MKK040/5

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