i
SECRET DEDIP
Ак
HA|HID
UP COPY
8095 1
-
HKK0405
DIIVID N. WIN.
659
OO CANBERRA
GRS 476
SECRET
DEDIP
FM FCO 191555Z DEC 83
TO IMMEDIATE CANBERRA (PERSONAL FOR HIGH COMMISSIONER)
TELEGRAM NUMBER 446 OF 20 DECEMBER
AND TO IMMEDIATE OTTAWA (PERSONAL FOR HIGH COMMISSIONER)
WELLINGTON (PERSONAL FOR HIGH COMMISSIONER)
INFO PRIORITY PEKING (PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR)
HONG KONG
FUTURE OF HONG KONG : BRIEFING OUR ALLIES
1. YOU MAY USE THE FOLLOWING TO BRING YOUR SENIOR OFFICIAL
CONTACTS UP-TO-DATE ON A CONFIDENTIAL. BASIS. IT REFLECTS THE
BRIEFING GIVEN HERE TO SENIOR AUSTRALIAN, CANADIAN AND
NEW ZEALAND REPRESENTATIVES SINCE 7 DECEMBER.
2.
FOR OTTAWA ONLY. THE QUESTION OF HONG KONG'S FUTURE WAS
UNDERLINE NOT CEASE UNDERLINING RAISED DURING MY RECENT
DISCUSSIONS WITH CANADIAN SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EXTERNAL
AFFAIRS.
осподня
3. THE SEVENTH ROUND OF SINO-BRITISH TALKS, ON 7/8 DECEMBER,
WAS AGAIN DESCRIBED AS USEFUL AND CONSTRUCTIVE AND THE MENTION OF
PROGRESS WAS HELPFUL. THE NEXT ROUND WILL BE ON 25/26 JANUARY,
AGAIN IN PEKING. THE LONGER GAP OF COURSE REFLECTS THE INTERVAL
BETWEEN SIR P CRADOCK'S DEPARTURE AND MR EVANS' ARRIVAL.
4.
THE ATMOSPHERE WAS WARMER AND THE DISCUSSION MORE POSITIVE
THAN AT THE NOVEMBER ROUND. AT THAT ROUND, AND SUBSEQUENTLY
THROUGH INFORMAL CONTACTS, WE SEEM TO HAVE REASSURED THE
CHINESE THAT OUR WILLINGNESS TO BASE DISCUSSION ON THE CHINESE
SET OF PROPOSALS (NEXT TWO WORDS UNDERLINED) WITHOUT PREJUDICE
DID NOT CLOAK ANY SCHEME FOR A CONTINUING BRITISH AUTORITATIVE
LINK AFTER 1997. AT THE DECEMBER MEETING THE CHINESE REFRAINED
FROM SEEKING EXPLICIT REAFFIRMATION OF THEIR SOVEREIGNTY/
ADMINISTRATION PREMISE AND WERE MORE WILLING TO DISCUSS
PRACTICALITIES.
5.
DISCUSSION CENTRED MAINLY ON THOSE AREAS OF THE CHINESE
9
1
SECRET DEDIP
/PROPOSALS
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.