TNAG-1257-FCO40-1590-Third-countries-and-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 142

SECRET

FROM PERSUADED OF OUR GOOD INTENTIONS AND BELIEVES THAT WE

ARE CONTINUING OUR QUEST FOR BRITISH ADMINISTRATION THROUGH

DEVIOUS MACHINATIONS. IT CONTAINS NO RECOGNITION OF THE GREAT

EFFORTS WE HAVE MADE TO MEET CHINESE VIEWS ON SOVEREIGNTY

AND ADMINISTRATION.

4. DENG'S COMMENTS THAT OF THE SITUATION DEMANDED IT THE

CHINESE SIDE WOULD RECONSIDER THE MANNER OF ADMINISTERING

HONG KONG (PARA 5 OF THE RECORD) IS, ON THE SURFACE, A WORRYING DEPARTURE FROM EARLIER STATEMENTS. BUT THE FRENCH TEXT SUGGESTS

THAT THORN MAY HAVE GOT DENG'S COMMENTS WRONG ON PAPER AND

THAT WHAT DENG MEANT WAS THAT THE CHINESE SIDE WAS LEAVING

ITSELF OPEN THE OPTION TO RECOVER SOVEREIGNTY OVER HONG KONG

EARLIER THAN IN 1997 SHOULD CIRCUMSTANCES DEMAND THIS.

CRADOCK

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

LIMINAND

COPIES TO: (VIA DISTR. ROOM)

SIR PHILIP MOORE BUCKINGHAM PALACE PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

SD/FED

ED/PLANNING STAFF

ED/PUSD

D/ED/PUSD(MR FLOWER)

RESEARCH DEPT(MR WALKER)

LEGAL ADVISER (SIR IAN SINCLAIR)

PS

PS/LADY YOUNG

PS/R LUCE

PS/PUS

SIR J BULLARD

MR GIFFARD

MR DONALD

MR WRIGHT

2

SEORET

PS/HOME SECRETARY

PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL

PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND

INDUSTRY

COPIES TO:

(VIA ADR)

NEWS DEPT

MR ROBERTS

ME BURROWS LEGAL ADVISERS

MR COLES NO 10 DOWNING ST

SIR A PARSONS

MR MARTIN

HR GOODALL

MR

BRENNAN

體

ASSESSMENT STAFF CABINET OFFICE CABINET OFFICE

+

PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL

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