CONFIDENTIAL
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24193 - 1
PP HELSINKI
RR PEKING
GRS 387
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO 131230Z OCT 83
TO PRIORITY HELSINKI
TELEOSAM NUMBER 329 OF 13 OCTOBER
INFO PEKING, HONG KONG
FUTURE OF HONG KONG BACKGROUND BRIEFING
TELECON COLLINS/HARBORNE OF 12 OCTOBER
MKK040/5
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
14 JCT 1983
DEN OFFICEA
PA
MELSTR
My C1126/10
1. WE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU AND CHINESE EMBASSY HAVE BEEN
APPROACHED BY A FINNISH JOURNALIST INTENDING TO WRITE AN ARTICLE
ON THIS SUBJECT. YOU SHOULD TAKE A LOW-KEY APPROACH, BUT YOU MAY
WISH TO DRAW ON FOLLOWING WHICH SUPPLEMENTS OUR
GUIDANCE TELS 192 OF 20 OCTOBER 1982 AND 083 OF 8 JULY 1983.
2. AS PART OF SECOND PHASE OF CONFIDENTIAL SINO-BRITISH TALKS,
MEETINGS HELD IN PEKING 12/13 JULY, 25/26 JULY, 2/3 AUGUST AND
22/23 SEPTEMBER.
THE NEXT ROUND WILL BE HELD IN PEKING ON 19 AND 20 OCTOBER.
3. GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG BEING CONSULTED THROUGHOUT. HE
PARTICIPATED IN JULY, AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER SESSIONS.
4. HMG ARE TAKING VIEWS OF PEOPLE OF HONG KONG FULLY INTO
ACCOUNT. THESE MADE KNOWN TO US AND GOVERNOR THROUGH MANY
CHANNELS. MR LUCE VISITED HONG KONG 24-28 SEPTEMBER. GOVERNOR
AND UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF HONG KONG'S EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AGAIN
VISITED LONDON FOR DISCUSSIONS WITH MINISTERS 6-8 OCTOBER.
5. HMG'S AIM IN TALKS IS TO REACH A SETTLEMENT ACCEPTABLE TO
BRITAIN, CHINA AND THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. WE INTEND IN
DETAILED DISCUSSIONS WITH CHINESE GOVERNMENT TO LOOK AT HONG KONG
QUESTION FROM EVERY ANGLE. WE AIM TO REACH A SETTLEMENT WHICH
WILL PERMIT CONTINUATION OF HONG KONG'S STABLE AND
PROSPEROUS SOCIETY,
FOR USE ONLY IF PRESSED
6. ON RECENT CHINESE STATEMENTS ON THEIR PROPOSALS FOR HONG
KONG YOU MAY SAY THAT WE ARE WELL AWARE OF MAIN LINES OF CHINESE
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