TNAG-1256-FCO40-1589-Third-countries-and-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 18

CONFIDENTIAL

F

Office of the United Kingdom Permanent Representative

to the European Communities

Rond-Point Robert Schuman 6

(478)

C27110

de hist

Ps. O

осл

Your reference

25/10

25

October 1983

1040 Brussels

Telephone 230 62 05

M. Thierry Stoll

Cabinet of President Thorn

Commission of the European Communities

Rue de la Loi 200

1040 Brussels

Our reference

Date

Dear M. Stoll,

HKK 040/5

RECEIVED IN NEGISTRY

1983

INDEX

M. THORN'S VISIT TO CHINA AND HONG KONG

STRY

Action Taker

I am pleased to attach background briefing on Hong Kong on the lines that you have requested.

M. Thorn may come under some pressure from the media in China and Hong Kong to comment on Hong Kong's future. My authorities have therefore asked me to underline the particular importance which the United Kingdom attaches to maintaining confidence in Hong Kong's future and of avoiding any comments which would in any way undermine this.

If the Chinese authorities raise the subject of Hong Kong M. Thorn may care to make the general point on behalf of the European Community that Hong Kong is an important part of the international trading system and that all its trading partners including the European Community attach importance to the preservation of these links. He will however wish to avoid making any comment on the talks between the United Kingdom and the People's Republic.

Yours sincerely, Peter Lougheads

P LOUGHEAD

b.cc:

My Morris (HKD) —

CONFIDENTIAL