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FUTURE OF HONG KONG: BRIEFING OPPOSITION LEADERS: DR OWEN/MR STEEL
POINTS TO MAKE
Francis Pym briefed you in May. Updating useful.
1.
Confidentiality.
2.
Prime Minister's China Visit September 1982.
Common aim. HMG's aim.
Talks agreed.
Talks. Initially slow. Chinese insistence on prior recognition of their sovereignty premise.
3.
4. Persuaded Chinese to enter more concrete talks in July. Conceded nothing. Stressed need for arrangements after 1997,
acceptable to Parliament, China and Hong Kong. Only then could
recommendations on sovereignty be put to Parliament.
5.
Eight
Second phase of talks. Began July. Seven meetings so far.
22/23 February. Next 25/26 January. Meanwhile informal contacts between
negotiators.
6.
Delegations.
Governor of Hong Kong participating on British side. Now new leader for each team. No particular significance to change on Chinese side.
7.
Atmosphere friendly. Chinese tough on substance. Demand sovereignty. Say sovereignty/administration indivisible. Reiterate SAR plan for Hong Kong. Key elements.
8.
9.
SAR plan. Details incomplete. Hong Kong people sceptical.
&
July/September Rounds. We attempted to educate Chinese on Hong Kong's complexities. Chinese suspicious.
10.
October Round. We proposed, without prejudice to discuss measures to ensure stability/prosperity on basis of Chinese
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