TNAG-1257-FCO40-1590-Third-countries-and-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 8

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against Chinese interference.

British administration.

10.

This at present provided by

We do not obtain revenue from Hong Kong nor have we

We want best possible deal for

colonialist aspirations.

Hong Kong.

BACKGROUND

11.

The Prime Minister is aware of the background.

Not for Use

12. With the Prime Minister's agreement we keep the Australians,

Canadians and New Zealanders generally informed about the talks

at a high level, though to a slightly lesser extent than we do

the Americans. The New Zealanders and Australians were brought

up to date during Mr Whitney's visit to the South Pacific in

September/October. The Australian High Commissioner called on

Mr Luce on 17 October and our High Commissioner in Canberra

briefed the Permanent Secretary of the Australian DFA on

11 November. 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.

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13. 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 Britain'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

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