TNAG-1262-FCO40-1602-MPs--letters-on-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 143

FLAGE

From The Minister of State

Jjear Robert,

Mei

Masks Kishin

Gutive pa

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

London SW1A 2AH

1 February 1983

نایا

Eve (161

Никочо

- 2 FEB 1933

@AF/2

Thank you for your letter of 18 January about Hong Kong and UK/China relations which those of us concerned here with Hong Kong and China have read with interest.

I agree with many of the points you make but I still reach different conclusions from you. In essence I do not think that the choice is as stark as you portray it. Of course we have to negotiate with the Chinese about Hong Kong's future, and as you know, meetings in Peking have already started to this end. We believe that good UK/China relations are as important to the People's Republic of China as they are to us and indeed it is in their interests as much as ours to maintain the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong. This much is clear from the joint com- munique issued during the Prime Minister's visit to Peking last September. We certainly have no wish to jeopardise our excellent relations with the PRC over this; but this is not to say that we will not strive to achieve our aim of reaching an agreement on Hong Kong which is acceptable to HMG, the Chinese Government and the people of Hong Kong. We cannot ignore HMG's commitment to the people of Hong Kong, which the Prime Minister made quite clear when she was there last September, and which I reiterated during my own visit in December 1982.

The negotiations over the future of Hong Kong will no doubt be difficult at times but the existence of friendly relations is a plus and, given the common aim and the will to succeed, grounds for hope.

Your Simcerely

H

(BELSTEAD)

Robert Adley Esq MP House of Commons London SWIA OAA