TNAG-1257-FCO40-1590-Third-countries-and-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 191

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11 Nareshe

September/October. The Australian High Commissioner called on Mr

and option commissie in Combena briefed the Perenes senJay ste Arsovare DEA an Luce on 17 October

Octobe The Prime Minister discussed Hong Kong with Mr Trudeau on 26 September in Ottawa. The Australian, Canadian and New Zealand representatives in Hong Kong, Peking and London are also kept up to date.

4. Within the Commonwealth, the Australians, New Zealanders and

Canadians have shown the closest interest in Hong Kong's future. The only others to do so are Malaysia, Singapore, Tonga and

Botswana. The Malaysian Prime Minister recently criticised HMG's

handling of the Hong Kong issue. (Malaysian banks sustained heavy losses recently through their involvement in the Hong Kong property market). Premier Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore told Mr Luce on 24

September that HMG should play its hand 'quietly and firmly'. The

King of Tonga asked for briefing on Hong Kong when he saw Sir Geoffrey Howe on 25 October. We have also recently provided general

briefing on Hong Kong for President Masire of Botswana who will

visit China in November.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

2 NOVEMBER 1983

3

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