TNAG-1254-FCO40-1587-Third-countries-and-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 99

1.

Mr Thomson

267

CODF 18-77

SECRET

HKK 0405

SK.

1033

Reference

ре

293

pr. 04015

FUTURE OF HONG KONG:

1.

5.

ANDORRA

SEDA KSJ

Thank you for marking to me a copy of Mr Clift's letter of 26 August to Mr Galsworthy.

2. Bearing in mind some recent Chinese comment (eg Ta Kung Pao), I wonder whether a possible explanation of Chinese interest in Andorra is that they perceive our approach to the Hong Kong negotiations to be one of steady retreat through a series of options, including:

Option 1: maintain the status quo, ie extend the lease.

Option 2:

trade titular sovereignty for practical administration, ie a Macao-style solution.

Option 3: joint UK/China sovereignty or joint UK/China

administration, ie an Andorra-style solution?.

If this is right the Chinese may be seeking to arm themselves in advance with information which will enable them to spike our guns if and when we raise Option 3.

3. This is of course wholly speculative. But if right it would be useful to know whether the Chinese see our Option 4 as capitulation to their terms or whether they expect us to deploy further intermediate options.

2 September 1983

Mox.

N J Cox

Far Eastern Dept

2.

cc: Mr Morris, HKD

Mr Walker Research Dept

for hast

hast vindue

The

The Chinese the gone to bull love the io Seeke out in fermeten aber Andorng, Thy may he love for politine roths

than negative aspecte pp's79.

mbed out

Zhon Non has abeach.

so would we

Our "Optiq 4"

*

ay

co-adminst tre

(ie optier C) would not, we

с

pros

hope be simply the chinese plon, chiriere pion with as

SECRET

but the

many goodie's

Jas