TNAG-1297-FCO40-1652-Visit-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-a-1984 — Page 128

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4. LORD SHAWCROSS HAD A LONG CONVERSATION WITH ZHOU ON 5 MARCH, JUST AFTER HE HAD LUNCHED WITH ME. I WAS ABLE TO DEBRIEF HIM ABOUT THIS LATE YESTERDAY (7 MARCH). HE TOLD ME THAT MOST OF THE CONVERSATION HAD CONCERNED SUBJECTS OTHER THAN HONG KONG. ON HONG KONG, HE HAD MADE TWO MAIN POINTS TO ZHOU. THESE WERE THAT THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE A FULL DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS BEFORE A FORMAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN CHINA AND THE UNITED KINGDOM COULD BE SIGNED AND THAT LEGISLATION WOULD BE NEEDED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM OVER ANY TRANSFER OF SOVEREIGNTY.

ZHOU HAD REACTED TO THE FIRST POINT BY SAYING THAT CHINA WOULD MUCH PREFER TO MAKE A JOINT STATEMENT WITH THE UNITED KINGDOM IN OR BY SEPTEMBER THAN TO MAKE A UNILATERAL STATEMENT OF HER OWN. GIVEN THE REQUIREMENT WHICH LORD SHAWCROSS HAD DESCRIBED, AND GIVEN THE TIMETABLE AT WESTMINSTER, IT MIGHT BE RIGHT FOR THE TWO SIDES TO AIM FOR A JOINT STATEMENT ABOUT PRINCIPLES IN THE LATE SUMMER TO BE FOLLOWED BY FURTHER NEGOTIATION ABOUT ''DETAILS''. HE HAD REACTED WITH INTEREST, BUT WITH NO SHOW OF ANY STRONGER EMOTION, TO THE SECOND POINT.

5. FOR MY VIEWS ABOUT YOUR VISIT TO PEKING, SEE MIFT.

EVANS

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