TNAG-1260-FCO40-1600-Briefings-for-Ministers-and-FCO-officials-on-the-future-of-H-1983 — Page 100

SECRET

THIS IS A COPY

THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR

A B D D D A D A

40 YEARS UNDER FOI EXEMPTION NO... 2766), 40(2)

FUTURE OF HONG KONG: BRIEFING FOR MR HEATH BEFORE VISIT TO CHINA

POINTS TO MAKE

1. During Prime Minister's visit to Peking in September 1982,

Chinese leaders:

(a) Said they intended to recover Chinese sovereignty over

whole of Hong Kong by 1997 at latest.

(b) Indicated intention to announce own plan for Hong Kong in

one or two years.

(c) Told Prime Minister they regarded sovereignty and

administration of Hong Kong as indivisible.

Nevertheless agreed to talks with HMG with common aim of maintaining Hong Kong's stability and prosperity.

2.

Progress at first slow because of Chinese insistence that HMG first recognise their sovereignty over whole of Hong Kong.

3.

Prime Minister

Explained that

transfer of sovereignty not within her gift. Parliament alone could

decide. However she would be willing to recommend to Parliament that sovereignty over Hong Kong revert to China provided that agreement could be reached on administrative arrangements acceptable to Britain, China and people of Hong Kong.

4.

Premier Zhao agreed to hold formal

talks as soon as possible, but proposed these should cover 'the form of transference of sovereignty as well as on the related questions of how China and Britain can cooperate during the transitional period between now and 1997 and after 1997.' Attempt to manoeuvre HMG into accepting an agenda which implied advance concession of sovereignty point. To us, first step had to be discussion of

practical arrangements to safeguard Hong Kong's stability and

SECRET