TNAG-1258-FCO40-1591-Third-countries-and-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 166

CODE 18-77

Mr Uden FED

cc: Mr Hum

SECRET

MK KOGO/S

RECEIVED IN KAS

2 5 NV 1983

Reference

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NDES

Cras!!!

FUTURE OF HONG KONG: BRIEFING THE JAPANESE

مر

593

осебя

1. Your minute of 22 November to Mr Elliott refers.

2.

You will now have seen FCO tel 428 to Tokyo sent by Mr Donald on 22 November, as well as Mr Donald' and Mr Giffard's comments on our submission of 4 November (the latter are attached in case you have not).

mirenting

3. For the record you may also like to have the attached outting reflecting views in Hong Kong Department on this question.

4. In reality I envisage us continuing to brief the Japanese in general terms as and when the occasion demands or arises, concentrating at the moment mainly on the kind of points listed by Mr Clift in para 2 of his minute, probably building up to more detailed briefing as and when the shape of a final agree- ment on Hong Kong's future begins to emerge in the talks. At that stage. I imagine we will very probably want to bring in more closely not only the Japanese but also EC and other allies; for this Ministerial agreement will clearly be needed. In short, I believe we can live with the existing arrangement for a while yet.

شا الله

24 November 1983

W Morris

Hong Kong Department

SECRET