TNAG-1268-FCO40-1617-China-s-economic-relationship-with-Hong-Kong-Shenzhen-econom-1983 — Page 125

CONFIDENTIAL

G

6

Mr Flower

PUS

cc: Mr Martin, Assessments Staff,

Cabinet Office

ECONOMIC VALUE OF HONG KONG TO CHINA

1.

2.JC 6/301lı

1 1 MAY 1983

inf

I have seen your minute of 5 May to Mr Morris (ref ZJC 6/301/1). There is no question in our minds of authorising Hong Kong to hand over any kind of paper whether to Unofficials or others. However, it does seem to me that there is nothing in this particular paper, including the conclusions, which could not be drawn on safely by Hong Kong in answering questions from visitors and EXCO Unofficials on the general question of Hong Kong's economic value to China. The conclusions emerge so logically from the statistical material in the paper that no harm whatsoever could be done by their being drawn on.

I hope you and the Assessments Staff can therefore agree that we reply to Hong Kong as follows:

2.

(a)

You should not hand over any kind of paper;

(b)

(c)

You may draw on the whole paper in briefing visitors and the Unofficials on a confidential basis; but

You should avoid any mention of sources where the various statistics are concerned, be they IMF, Assessments Staff, MOD or Chinese

THIS IS A COPY

THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN RETAINED

IN THE DEPARTMENT UNDER SECTION 3 (4) OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT 1958

10 May 1983

Mr. Flower M. Martin's happy will

this proposal.

Als

K.vd.

Дит

R D Clift

Hong Kong and General Department

BG 10/5-

CONFIDENTIAL

چه فریم

time

TeC seat

80714

13/8

M