TNAG-1255-FCO40-1588-Third-countries-and-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 166

SECRET

VISIT BY MR LUCE TO SINGAPORE: 24 SEPTEMBER 1983

POSSIBLE CALL ON LEE KUAN YEW

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

BACKGROUND

1.

We do not keep the Singaporeans in the picture on a regular

basis. However, Sir P Cradock saw Lee (an old friend) soon after

the Prime Minister's visit to China and Hong Kong in September

1982, and in April 1983 the Governor gave Lee dinner and discussed

the future with him during a visit to Hong Kong. It was then that

Lee used the word 'insulator' in referring to the British

administrative link. He feared that the professional and indust-

rialist classes, on which Hong Kong's success was so dependent, would be the ones to leave if the 'insulation' between Peking and

Hong Kong disappeared. At the same time he saw no chance of

flexibility by Peking over sovereignty.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

SOUTH EAST ASIAN DEPARTMENT

16 SEPTEMBER 1983

-2- SECRET