TNAG-1257-FCO40-1590-Third-countries-and-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 167

GRS 320

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FROM PEKING 03085OZ NOV 83

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 1141 OF 3/11/83

REPEATED FOR INFO TO PRIORITY HONG KONG

MKK040 5

ska by KEDIST

+

NOV 1983

DE:

PIDAY

FFICER

PA

HONG KONG TEL NO 1642:

VISIT OF SPANISH FOREIGN MINISTER:

REMARKS ON HONG KONG

1. MORAN STATED PUBLICLY WHILE HERE THAT HE WAS PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN CHINA'S POSITION ON HONG KONG, BECAUSE OF THE SIMILARITY TO THE GIBRALTAR QUESTION.

2. AT A BANQUET GIVEN BY FOREIGN MINISTER WU XUEQIAN ON 29 OCTOBER MORAN SAID THAT SPAIN AND CHINA FIRMLY OPPOSED RACISM AND COLONIALISM. HE ADDED THAT THERE WERE QUESTIONS LEFT OVER FROM HISTORY CONCERNING THE TERRITORY OF BOTH COUNTRIES. SUCH QUESTIONS COULD ONLY BE SOLVED THROUGH REALISTIC AND CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE PARTIES INVOLVED.

THE DIALOGUE HAD TO GIVE DUE CONSIDERATION TO THE PARTICULAR FEATURES OF THE AGE. QUESTIONS OF SOVEREIGNTY AND TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY COULD NOT BE OPEN FOR DISCUSSION. THESE REMARKS WERE REPORTED IN PEOPLE'S DAILY ON 31 OCTOBER.

3. MORAN MET DENG XIAOPING ON 30 OCTOBER AND AFTERWARDS SPOKE TO REPORTERS. HE SAID DENG HAD TOLD HIM THAT THE QUESTION OF WHO WOULD ADMINISTER HONG KONG AFTER PEKING REGAINED SOVEREIGNTY WAS NOT NEGOTIABLE. DENG HAD REITERATED THAT THE TALKS DEALT ONLY WITH ASSURING THE COLONY'S STABILITY AND

PROSPERITY UNTIL (SIC) 1997.

CONFIDENTIAL

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