TNAG-1312-FCO40-1687-Future-of-Hong-Kong-views-and-involvement-of-Australia--Cana-1984 — Page 6

,"

HKK 04076.

RECEIVED IN RE

·9 MAY 1984

(79)

CONFIDENTIAL

INDEX

PA

Action Taken

TAL.

RECORD OF SECRETARY OF STATE'S CONVERSATION WITH THE HON W COOPER MP,

NEW ZEALAND MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND OVERSEAS TRADE,

AT 1145 AM ON TUESDAY 1 MAY 1984

Present:

The Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Howe QC MP

Mr J S Chick, Head of South

Pacific Department

Mr P F Ricketts, Private

Secretary

Mr R M Sands, South Pacific

Department

The Hon Warren Cooper MP

HE The Hon W L Young, New Zealand

High Commissioner

Mr M Norrish, Secretary for

Foreign Affairs

Mr E Woodfield, Deputy Secretary,

Treasury

Mr B M Brown, Deputy High

Commissioner

In responding to the Secretary of State's welcome, Mr Cooper referred appreciatively to the briefing he had received, when last in Hong Kong, from Sir E Youde; and said that progress seemed to have been made in the negotiations on Hong Kong. There had been an outflow of capital and a home could be found for some of it in New Zealand. Sir Geoffrey Howe agreed that there had been some progress. The Chinese seemed anxious to reach an early agreement. Difficulties remained but both sides were committed to maintaining stability and prosperity in Hong Kong.

2. Mr Cooper regretted raising yet again the question of butter, but recalled that the Prime Minister had said that New Zealand should not apologise for troubling us about it. It was necessary to ensure that all EC Members knew New Zealand's position. His present visit had already taken him to Athens, Rome, The Hague, Luxembourg and Copenhagen, where he had found complete agreement with New Zealand's aims. The Italians had been particularly strong in their support;

CONFIDENTIAL

/and