TNAG-1313-FCO40-1688-Future-of-Hong-Kong-views-and-involvement-of-Australia--Cana-1984 — Page 178

HKCK 040/6

COLVED IN REGIS

25 SEP 1934

GRS 130

SECRET

SECRET

F WELLINGTON 250444Z SEP 84

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 311 OF 25 SEPTEMBER

PA

STAY

Aetion Taken

ER 2/10

AND TO LEDIATE UKITIS NEW YORK (FOR SECRETARY OF STATE'S PAPTY)

INFO PRIORITY WASHINGTON, CANBERRA, OTTAWA

(127)

YOUR TELNO $37 TO CANBERRA: FUTURE OF HONG KONG

1. I CALLED ON ACTING PRIME MINISTER, MR PALMER, THIS AFTERNOON AND DELIVERED TO HIM THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S MESSAGE AND A COPY OF THE TEXT OF THE AGREEMENT, EMPHASISING THE HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL CHARACTER OF THIS ADVANCE INFORMATION. MR PALMER WAS VERY FORTHCOMING AND SAID THAT NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT WOULD WISH TO DO EVERYTHING IT COULD TO ASSIST IN ENSURING THE CONTINUATION OF HONG KONG'S STABILITY AND PROSPERITY. HE WOULD COMMUNICATE AT ONCE WITH HIS PRIME MINISTER SUGGESTING THAT A COMMENDATORY STATEMENT SHOULD BE MADE. FOR THIS PURPOSE HE ACCEPTED FROM ME A DRAFT OUTLINE BASED ON PARA 3 OF YOUR TELNO 756 TO CANBERRA.

O'LEARY

MINIMAL

HKD

FED

NAD

SPD

(109)

SECRET

COPIES TO:

SIR. P. CRA DOCK

(133)