TNAG-1306-FCO40-1663-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 5

I

THIS IS A COPY

THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN RETAINED

IN THE DEPARTMENT UNDER

SECTION 3 (4) OF THE

PUBLIC RECORDS ACT 1958

SECRET

HKK040/1

MADLIVED IN REGISTRY

AN 1984

Private Secretary

Copies to: PS/Mr Luce

PS/PUS

Sir. P Cradock

Mr Donald

Mr Thomson, FED PUSD

From: R D Clift

TRE Date: 27 January 1984

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LORD SHAWCROSS' CALL ON THE SECRETARY OF STATE, 30 JANUARY 1984:

FUTURE OF HONG KONG.

1. The Secretary of State has agreed to see Lord Shawcross on 30 January and brief him on the future of Hong Kong. I submit

a brief.

B

2.

Lord Shawcross has a close interest in Hong Kong where the Morgan

Bank (for which he is a special adviser) is active. The Secretary

of State last briefed him on 4 October 1983 (record attached).

3. Lord Shawcross is in close touch with the Chinese Embassy

here

reports have indicated that he has discussed

Hong Kong's future with the Chinese Ambassador, He has also

visited China on several occasions and has been received at a

high level. There is every possibility that a frank description of our position would be relayed to the Chinese and possibly

misinterpreted. I therefore recommended in my submission of 6

December 1983 (copy attached with the essential facts) that the

Secretary of State should not agree to Lord Shawcross' request to be briefed on Privy Council terms, but to have only general discussion

with him. Thus though Lord Shawcross may still expect to receive a confidential briefing, I suggest that anything said to him should

be in very general terms.

SECRET

R D Clift

Hong Kong Department