TNAG-1254-FCO40-1587-Third-countries-and-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 101

HKK 040/s

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

8 SEP 1983

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

WR

PA

RECISTRY

Action Taken

Ісмажи

PP TOKYO

GRS 352

MRS

PRIEST

GOING

THE TOP COPY OF THIS TEC IS PROBABLY WITH FED BY THE DISTRIBUTION LIST. K.S. JONES-

519/53

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242

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FM FCO 05151OZ SEP 83

TO PRIORITY TOKYO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 332 OF 5 SEPTEMBER

!

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YOUR TELNO 452:

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AMBASSADORIAL CONSULTATIONS:

HONG KONG

WHEN YOU DISCUSS CHINA WITH THE JAPANESE, THEY WILL ALMOST

CERTAINLY ASK YOU ABOUT THE HONG KONG NEGOTIATIONS. IN REPLY

YOU SHOULD DRAW ON GUIDANCE TELNO 83 OF 8 JULY, EMPHASISING

THE NEED FOR US AND THE CHINESE TO ACHIEVE COMMON UNDERSTANDING

AS TO HOW TO ACHIEVE PROSPERITY AND STABILITY. YOU MAY ADD THE

FOLLOWING POINTS:

A) 3 ROUNDS OF DETAILED TALKS WERE HELD IN PEKING ON 12/13 JULY,

25/26 JULY AND 2/3 AUGUST. THEY WILL RESUME ON 22/23 SEPTEMBER.

B) THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG TOOK PART IN ALL THESE TALKS AND

WILL CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE AS APPROPRIATE. THE CHINESE ARE

INSISTENT THAT THE TALKS ARE BILATERAL BETWEEN BRITAIN AND CHINA

AND THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAS NO ROLE AS A THIRD PARTY.

BUT NATURALLY THE GOVERNOR HAS TO REPORT TO THE HONG KONG

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, WHOM WE CONSULT CLOSELY.

C) IF PRESSED ON CHINESE LEAKS (EG HU YAOBANG'S REMARKS TO JAPANESE JOURNALISTS ON 15 AUGUST) YOU SHOULD SPEAK AS IN PARA 10 OF GUIDANCE TUR. BUT YOU COULD ADD THAT THE JAPANESE SHOULD NOT

PLACE TOO MUCH RELIANCE ON CHINESE PUBLIC REMARKS, PARTICULARLY ABOUT HMG'S POSITION. THEY ARE FAMILIAR WITH CHINESE NEGOTIATING

TACTICS.

D) THE CHINESE ARE TAKING A TOUGH LINE ON SOVEREIGNTY AND DO NOT

APPEAR FULLY TO UNDERSTAND WHY ADMINISTRATIVE CONTINUITY IS

NECESSARY. BUT THE ATMOSPHERE REMAINS FRIENDLY. WE HOPE THAT

AS THE TALKS GO ON THEIR UNDERSTANDING WILL INCREASE OF THE COMPLEX PRACTICAL BASIS OF HONG KONG'S STABILITY AND PROSPERITY. MEANWHILE, WE WELCOME THE CONTINUING VIGOUR OF JAPANESE INVEST-

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