TNAG-1307-FCO40-1664-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 33

GAS250

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENMA

FM HONG KONG 27094OZ FEB 84

TO PRIORITY FCO

TOP COPY

TELEGRAM NUMBER 528 OF 27 FEBRUARY

INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON-BRUSSELS,

UKMIS GENEVA, WASHINGTON, CG NEW YORK

FOR HONG KONG GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES

HKG/GT/48: FUTURE OF HONG KONG

4KK040

2:

MD 1.

- 1904

*NDEX.

1. FOLLOWING THE CONCLUSION OF THE NINTH ROUND OF TALKS IN PEKING ON 23 FEBRUARY, THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT AS ISSUED SIMULTANEOUSLY BY THE BRITISH EMBASSY IN PEKING AND THE NONA.

**THE CHINESE AND BRITISH SIDES CONTINUED THEIR USEFUL AND

CONSTRUCTIVE TALKS ON THE HONG KONG QUESTION ON 22 AND 23

FEBRUARY IN PEKING. IT WAS AGREED THAT THE TENTH ROUND OF TALKS

WOULD TAKE PLACE ON 16 AND 17 MARCH IN PEKING.''

BACKGROUND

2. SENIOR CHINESE OFFICIALS HAVE MADE A NUMBER OF STATEMENTS

RECENTLY INDICATING THAT THEY HOPED FOR AN AGREEMENT BY JULY.

THEY ALSO SUGGESTED THAT THE TALKS WOULD BE SPEEDED UP. HMG'S

POSITION REMAINS THAT NO OVERALL TIMETABLE HAS BEEN AGREED. A

SATISFACTORY SOLUTION IS PREFERABLE TO A RUSHED ONE.

LINE TO TAKE

3. IF YOU ARE ASKED TO COMMENT ON THE SHORTER INTERVAL BETWEEN

THE NINTH AND TENTH ROUNDS, YOU MAY DRAW ON THE ABOVE BACKGROUND

MATERIAL. YOU SHAOULD ALSO SAY THAT THE TIMING OF EACH ROUND OF

TALKS IS DETERMINED BY MANY FACTORS INCLUDING THE OTHER COMMITMENTS

OF THE NEGOTIATORS. THE TWO SIDES WILL MEET AS OFTEN AS

PRACTICABLE AND NECESSARY.

YOUDE

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

LH:MMEND

FED

D/PLANNING STAFF

/PUSD

D/ED/PUSD (MR FLOWER)

PES.B. (MR WALKER)

LEGAL ADVISER (SIR IAN SINCLAIR

PS

PS/LADY YOUNG

PS/MER LUCE

PS/PUS

STR J BULLARD

SIR W HARDING

ER DONALD

KR WRIGHT

SIR C TICKELT,

COPIES TO:

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL PS/HOME SECRETARY

PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL

PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE & INDUSTRY

COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)

MR ROBERTS NEWS D

HR BURROWS

LEGAL ADVS

MR COLES NO 10 DOWNING ST

MR. MARIMIN ASSESSMENT STAFF CABINET OFFICE

MR GOODALL

CABINET OFFICE

MR BRENNAN CABINET OFFICE

PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE D PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL

SIR P CRADOCK EM KĪGS

BIR P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING STREET

CONFIDEN HAL

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