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SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1983
GENERAL BRIEF F : FUTURE OF HONG KONG
POINTS TO MAKE [DRAFT]
ang
DRAFT
A. (Other than with Americans, Canadians, Australians and New
_Zealanders).-
1.
Sino-British talks through diplomatic channels agreed September 1982. Meetings held Peking. Common aim of maintaining Hong Kong's stability and prosperity.
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2. Second phase of talks began July. Reconvened 22/23 September. Chinese delegation led by Vice Foreign Minister Yao Guang, British by HMA Peking. Governor of Hong Kong participating as appropriate
on British side.
3.
Content of talks confidential.
4. We aim to seek settlement acceptable to Britain, China and
people of Hong Kong. Their views taken fully into account.
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5. Chinese propaganda floats Hong Kong as Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China, with considerable autonomy and with lifestyle basically unchanged.
6.
Most Hong Kong people sceptical of SAR idea.
Evidence suggests
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details rudimentary and basis for confidence not grasped. need effective guarantees against Chinese interference. This at present provided by British administration.
7. Central issue is to devise package inspiring confidence. Given agreed common aim, confident this possible.
8. Meanwhile important nothing said or done to damage confidence. This very fragile.
9. Contrary to apparent Chinese beliefs, British Government obtains
from Hong Kong revenue only of normal trading partner. Sovereignty
10. Chinese and British positions well-known. We fully realise importance of sovereignty to China. We are not inflexible. Willing to consider any solution acceptable to Britain, China and Hong Kong.
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