TNAG-1256-FCO40-1589-Third-countries-and-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 89

CONFIDENTIAL

agreed. He said that New Zealand would be happy to see the situation

resolved so that they could get back into some sort of relationship

with Argentina, if only to talk to them about resuming the polar air

route which had proved profitable to New Zealand.

Hong Kong

5. Mr Whitney explained the background to the negotiations with

the Chinese over the future of Hong Kong, and emphasised the con-

fidentiality of the talks and the need to do or say nothing that

would upset confidence in Hong Kong. He hoped that Mr Norrish would understand the limitations on what he could say to him. He emphasised that Britain did not benefit economically from Hong Kong; it was simply a case of recognising our responsibilities. Mr Norrish said

that he appreciated the sensitivity of the issue. He had visited Shenzhen recently, and thought that it had a long way to go. He had visited two factories, one making containers which was very good, and the other a printing works which was very poor and totally lacking in any modern machinery, He was singularly unimpressed with

the zone and China's claims for it. He asked that we continue to

keep New Zealand informed on developments as best we could.

Distribution

PS/Lady Young

PS/Mr Whitney

PS/PUS

Mr Giffard

Mr Donald

SPD

FID

HKD

UND

Dept of Trade, OT2

BHC, WELLINGTON

3

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