TNAG-1263-FCO40-1606-Parliamentary-contacts-on-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 71

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PS/MI Lace Minister

17 NOV 1983

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FROM : R D Clift

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Hong Kong Dept

DATE: 14 November 1983

CC:

PS

12 Ponts

PS/Lady Young

Mam nom

PS/Mr Raison

PS/Mr Rifkind

Mr Houston

PS/PUS

Mr Giffard

Mr Donald

FUTURE OF HONG KONG : BRIEFING FOR CONSERVATIVE FOREIGN AFFAIRS

COMMITTEE, TUESDAY 15 NOVEMBER 1983

/A 1. I attach some "Points to Make" for Mr Luce's use. They cover

attached

areas where, following the Secretary of State's meeting with the

Committee on 1 November, we see specific advantage in either

B expanding or reiterating points already made. (The briefing for that altached

meeting is also attached.) The "Points" may need to be updated

tomorrow to take account of any significant developments arising from the current round of Sino-British talks on Hong Kong.

C

altached

2. Since the Committee were briefed on 1 November, there have been

a number of developments. There has been unhelpful press speculation about a possible British sell-out on Hong Kong.

Sir Philip Goodhart MP has written to Mr Luce, to the Chief

Secretary of Hong Kong and to Mr Oswald Cheung (of Hong Kong's Executive Council) in gloomy terms about the prospects for Hong Kong's future. Mr Robert Adley MP has wrongly accused the Hong Kong Government of mounting a "smear

"smear" campaign against him.

November the press spokesman of the Chinese MFA in Peking reiterated the Chinese line that they intend to make a unilateral announcement about Hong Kong in September 1984 if no bilateral Sino-British

agreement has by then been reached.

On 9

14 November 1983

afe

RD Clift

Hong Kong Dept