TNAG-1260-FCO40-1600-Briefings-for-Ministers-and-FCO-officials-on-the-future-of-H-1983 — Page 94

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HKK 040/11

LORD SHAWCROSS'S CALL ON MR LUCE, 10.15 AM WEDNESDAY 7 SEPTEMBER

1983 : FUTURE OF HONG KONG

POINTS TO MAKE

1.

Position somewhat changed since you saw Mr Giffard in April. Encouraging that second (ie more detailed) phase of Sino-British talks began in Peking 12/13 July. Further meetings held 25/26 July and 2/3 August. Will resume 22/23 September. Content of all these

talks confidential.

2. Chinese delegation at talks led by Vice Minister Yao Guang, British delegation by HMA Peking. Governor of Hong Kong participating as appropriate on British side. Although talks bilateral between Britain and China, we are in close consultation with Hong Kong's Executive Council.

3. Atmosphere at second phase of talks good though Chinese line on substance tough throughout.

4.

We have concentrated on trying to educate Chinese about complexity of Hong Kong and vital issue of confidence there. Confidence linked to British administration and systems prevailing in Hong Kong. We do not think Chinese fully understand these points.

5. Chinese propaganda has floated idea of Hong Kong as autonomous region under Chinese constitution. Propaganda campaign recently stepped up. Eg Party General Secretary Hu Yaobang told Japanese reporters on 15 August that China would recover sovereignty over Hong Kong on 1 July 1997 and that China had full set of policies for Hong Kong'save erroneous impression that we had conceded China's premise on sovereignty.

a systemanć policy for maintaining

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