TNAG-1312-FCO40-1687-Future-of-Hong-Kong-views-and-involvement-of-Australia--Cana-1984 — Page 65

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(Mr Hum)

Mr. Cliff.

MESSAGE TO THE PRIME MINISTER FROM THE AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER: HONG KONG

1.

Mr Coles' letter of 13 February to Mr Ricketts asked for a draft reply from the Prime Minister to Mr Hawke's message about his recent discussion on Hong Kong with the Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang.

I submit in draft:

(a) A minute from Mr Clift to the PS to cover;

(b) A PS letter to Mr Coles to enclose;

(c) A letter from Mr Coles to the Australian High Commissioner here and;

(d) A reply from the Prime Minister to Mr Hawke.

2. Mr Chick, SPD, had asked to see (d) so that SPD could work into it 'one or two additional points'. But SPD have simply tinkered with our account of the Hong Kong negotiations. I think we can accept Mr Chick's amendment to para 3 of our original draft but not that to para 2. I therefore suggest that A-B be reinstated in the redraft. I shall also tell SPD (all at a meeting this morning) that we should be grateful if they could find some other way

know that to let the Prime Minister the Mr Hawke will attend the Tolpuddle Martyrs celebrations in July. This information would sit very oddly with a letter about Hong Kong!

CODE 18-77

21 February 1984

cc Mr Clift

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JSC Priest (Mrs) HK

Despatched to Private vice 2242.

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