237
TOP COPY
GRS 400
SECRET
MKK040JS
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
I
> AUG 1983
MEGISTR
INDEX
PA
SECRET
PA.
FROM PEKING 1C073OZ AUG 33
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 776 OF 10 AUGUST
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG CANBERRA (PERSONAL FOR HIGH COMMISSIONEF)
MIPT: FUTURE OF HONG KONG: MR HAYDEN
COMMENT
1. ALTHOUGH WU DID NOT ACTUALLY REVEAL THE CONTENTS OF THE TALKS,
HE HAS NEVERTHELESS GIVEN A PRETTY FULL PICTURE OF THE CHINESE
POSITION TO HAYDEN. THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH REGULAR CHINESE
STATEMENTS TO US THAT THEY WOULD WHERE NECESSARY MAKE THEIR
POSITION CLEAR, BUT IS NEVERTHELESS NOT HELPFUL.
2. WE DO NOT THINK THAT THERE IS ANYTHING NEW IN WHAT WU TOLD
HAYDEN, THOUGH THE FUTURE REFERENCE (PARA 3) TO POSSIBLE
ELECTIONS IN HONG KONG UNDER THE CHINESE PLAN IS INTERESTING.
"
3. AFP REPORTED DURING THE VISIT THAT MR HAYDEN HAD SAID
THAT HE HAD FOUND MR WU'S BRIEFING ON HONG KONG ENCOURAGING?",
AND THIS WAS SUBSEQUENTLY REPORTED IN THE HONG KONG AND BRITISH
NEWSPAPERS. WITH SOME DIFFICULTY WE HAVE NOW ESTABLISHED FROM
THAT AUSTRALIAN EMBASSY THAT HAYDEN'S PRIVATE SECRETARY ACREED
A PRESS RELEASE WITH THE CHINESE AFTER THE FORMAL TALKS ENDED
ON 5 AUGUST, PART OF WHICH READ MR WU GAVE AN EXTENSIVE EXPOSITION OF CHINESE VIEW ON HONG KONG. MR HAYDEN WAS VERY
ENCOURAGED BY HIS PRESENTATION'. THE AUSTRALIAN EMBASSY WERE NOT
CONSULTED ABOUT THE WORDING OF THIS. IT IS CURIOUS THAT ONLY
AFP PICKED UP THIS PHRASE.
4. NO DOUBT MR HAYDEN MEANT THIS TO BE HELPFUL TO CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG, AND HIS REMARKS TO WU ON INTERVENTION IN THE HONG KONG MARKETS CERTAINLY WERE HELPFUL. HOWEVER FOR THE FOREIGN
MINISTER OF A FRIENDLY CAPITALIST COUNTRY TO SAY PUBLICLY THAT
HAVING HEARD AN EXPOSITION OF THE KNOWN CHINESE POSITION HE IS **VERY ENCOURAGED' IS POSITIVELY DAMAGING TO OUR POSITION VIS A VIS THE CHINESE, AND SHOWS A DEGREE OF INSENSITIVITY WHICH JUGCESTS THAT THERE IS NOT MUCH POINT IN SRIEFING THE AUSTRALIANS FURTHER
ON THIS SUBJECT.
SECRET
15. 702
*
1CM TIS
(938)
Sae (7)
-Sec (253)
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.