TNAG-1258-FCO40-1591-Third-countries-and-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 13

5. FINALLY THE AUSTRALIAN OF 31 JANUARY (AGAIN PAUL ELLERCAMP) STATES QUOTE AFTER THE TALKS DOTS AUSTRALIAN OFFICIALS REFUSED TO DIVULGE WHAT THE DELEGATION HAD TOLD THE PRIME MINISTER. IT IS UNDERSTOOD SIR EDWARD INDICATED TO MR HAWKE BRITAIN'S RESPONSE TO THE TWELVE POINT SET OF PROPOSALS MADE BY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT IN TALKS LATE LAST YEAR. THE REFUSAL TO DIVULGE EVEN THE SLIGHTEST DETAIL OF YESTERDAY'S TALKS REFLECTS THE SENSITIVITY WITH WHICH THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT IS APPROACHING HONG KONG'S FUTURE. UNQUOTE, THE ARTICLE GOES ON QUOTE, MR HAWKE IS UNDERSTOOD TO HAVE TREATED YESTERDAY'S TALKS LARGELY AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRIEF HIMSELF ON THE SINO-BRITAIN NEGOTIATIONS RATHER THAN A CHANCE TO PUSH ANY VIEWS HE MAY HAVE ABOUT THE SUBJECTS. IT IS ALSO UNDERSTOOD THE TALKS DID NOT INCLUDE THE POSSIBILITY OF AUSTRALIA DEVELOPING AS AN INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE A SUBJECT WHICH HAS BEEN RAISED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION LAST MONTH TO FLOAT THE AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR. UNQUOTE.

MASON

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

HD/PLANNING STAFF

HD/PUSD

D/HD/PUSD (MR FLOWER)

RES.D. (MR WALKER)

LEGAL ADVISER (SIR IAN SINCLAIR

PS

PS/LADY YOUNG

PS/MR LUCE

COPIES TO:

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

PS/HOME SECRETARY

PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL

PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE & INDUSTRY

COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)

MR ROBERTS

NEWS D

PS/PUS

SIR J BULLARD

SIR W HARDING

HR DONALD

MR WRIGHT

SIR C TICKELL

MR BURROWS LEGAL ADVS

MR COLES NO 10 DOWNING ST

MR MARTIN ASSESSMENT STAFF CABINET OFFICE

MR GOODALL CABINET OFFICE

MR BRENNAN CABINET OFFICE

PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE D

PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL

SIR P CRADOCK RM K196

BIR P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING STREET

2.