TNAG-1256-FCO40-1589-Third-countries-and-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 114

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Bothes

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RECORD OF A CALL BY SIR VICTOR GARLAND, AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER,

ON

MR RICHARD LUCE MP, MINISTER OF STATE: 3.30 PM ON MONDAY 17 OCTOBER

1983

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RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

Present

4.JI 1983

INDEX

PA

REGISTRY

Action Taken

Sir V Garland

Mr Luce

Mr Benson, Minister (Political) AHC

Mr Warren-Gash PS/Mr Luce)

Mrs Priest, HKD.

1. Mr Luce thanked Sir V Garland for letting us have a copy of the record of the Australian Foreign Minister's recent meeting in New York with the Chinese Foreign Minister. We had found this very helpful. Looking forward, Mr Luce said that the Sino-British talks

on Hong Kong's future would resume on 19-20 October. Our aim

remained that of trying to reach mutual agreement with the Chinese

on ways to preserve Hong Kong's stability and prosperity beyond 1997. His recent visit to Hong Kong had left him in doubt that

the people of Hong Kong were very concerned to preserve their basic lifestyle and freedoms. They were also very distrustful of China.

Many of the older ones had fled China after the Communist takeover in 1949 and had a deep-seated fear of the consequences of coming under Communist rule. Hong Kong people generally were antagonistic towards the intensive Chinese propaganda campaign on the Hong Kong question.

2.

Sir V Garland asked whether HMG intended taking a higher profile on their own position in response to Chinese propaganda. Mr Luce explained that this would be kept under review. Although we did not wish to breach the spirit of the confidentiality of the talks, we might have to consider taking a higher profile if Chinese propaganda resumed at earlier intensive rates.

•

Sir V Garland then asked whether Chinese really cared about maintaining Hong Kong's stability and prosperity, and what approach

we might adopt at the talks to break the apparent deadlock over

CONFIDENTIAL