TNAG-1258-FCO40-1591-Third-countries-and-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 195

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CODE 18-77

Mr Hum

Mr Clift

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Likkords

RECEIVED IN REGISTAY

25 NOV 1983

DESK OFFICER INDEX

PA

ction. Taken

HKK 040/5

Reference

(502)

ра

FUTURE OF HONG KONG: US AND JAPANESE EMBASSY BRIEFINGS

1.

Miss Sutter, Counsellor US Embassy, and Mr Sunosaki, First Secretary, Japanese Embassy, called on me separately on 17 November for an update on Hong Kong's future and the talks. As usual I gave a somewhat fuller account to our American colleague.

2.

Both were interested to hear how the last round had gone and both, interestingly enough, made particular play of the remarks by a Chinese MFA official on 16 November about the possibility of Hong Kong people being allowed to elect their own Government after 1997. I said this was not a subject on which there had been discussion in the talks and that it was another interesting indicator of the special status China claimed it would give to HongKong under its SAR plan. It certainly was worth looking at.

3. I told Miss Sutter that the November round of talks had been stickier than the October round and that we had again struck the obstacle of principles. It was not clear how much further we would get in discussing details and practicalities until this object had been circumnavigated. I mentioned that we were providing the Chinese with some informal working papers as a means of trying to get them to elaborate on their SAR plan. I made it clear to Miss Sutter and Mr Sunosaki that neither side had so far made any fundamental concessions.

4. There was also some discussion about the recent toning down of Chinese propaganda and of Ju Peng Fei's remarks to several individuals and groups about the SAR plan.

5.

Mr Sunosaki asked if I could elaborate on Mr Heath's visit to Taiwan. At the time I was not aware that he had made such a visit so I could say nothing but suggest that he ask FED. (I have since seen the attached note from the Anglo-Taiwan Trade Committee).

6. Mr Sunosaki said that the new Japanese Consul-General in Hong Kong had recently called on the Governor. I said it would be useful if he kept in touch with our Political Advisers Office. He also mentioned Hu Yao Bang's visit to Japan, 23-30 November. He said the Japanese Government did not wish to intervene over Hong Kong but would probably say to Hu that they were watching the negotiations carefully and hoped that a satisfactory agreement would be reached.

7. [Comment: I was aware when briefing Mr Sunosaki that on 4 November we had put up a submission recommending that we brought the Japanese more fully into the picture. I discover today that the submission is still with Mr Donald]. I told Mr Sunosaki that the Japanese line, which he had given me, was helpful. I suggested that if the subject of Hong Kong was raised by Hu as was quite likely, there were one or two other points that the Japanese might consider making if they felt able to. These were: that HMG takes no revenue from Hong Kong; that Britain does not seek to perpetuate Hong Kong's colonial status for its own sake, but has an obligation to try to ensure prosperity

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