TNAG-1313-FCO40-1688-Future-of-Hong-Kong-views-and-involvement-of-Australia--Cana-1984 — Page 179

GRS 230

SECRET

HKK 00016

SECRET

DEDIP

FM WELLINGTON 24042OZ SEP 84

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 309 OF 24 SEPTEMBER

RECEIVED IU REGISTRY

24 SEP 1984

SE OF

C

INGISTRY

Action Taken

TOP CORY GRYL

AND TO IMMEDIATE UKMIS NEW YORK (FOR SECRETARY-OF-

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YOUR TELS NOS 837, 838 AND 839 TC CANBERRA: FUTURE OF HONG KONG: BRIEFING OF ALLIES: SINO/BRITISH AGREEMENT

1. YOU WILL KNOW FROM MY TELNO 283 CF 7 SEPTEMBER THAT MR LANGE LEFT NEW ZEALAND ON 22 SEPTEMBER FOR NEW YORK. SECRETARY OF STATE'S MESSAGE REFERRED TO IN PARA 3 OF YOUR FIRST TUR WILL THEREFORE PRESUMABLY BE DELIVERED IN NEW YORK. I WOULD PROPOSE, HOWEVER, WITH YOUR AGREEMENT, TO SEEK AN INTERVIEW FOR TOMORROW 25 SEPTEMBER WITH THE ACTING PRIME MINISTER, MR PALMER, AND TO HAND HIM A COPY OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S MESSAGE TO MR LANGE, WHICH I SHALL BY THEN HAVE RECEIVED. I WOULD AT THE SAME TIME HAND OVER THE TEXT OF THE AGREEMENT AND DRAW UPON THE EXPLANATORY NOTES IN YOUR THIRD

TUR.

2. UNTIL HIS DEPARTURE TOMORROW, MR O'FLYNN, THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, WILL BE ACTING MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS. AFTER HIS DEPARTURE DR BASSETT, MINISTER OF HEALTH AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, WILL BE ACTING MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS. I WOULD PROPOSE TO SEND COPIES OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S MESSAGE TO BOTH THESE MINISTERS, BUT TO RESERVE THE TEXT OF THE AGREEMENT FOR MR PALMER. IT IS HE WHO, ACCORDING TO MY SENIOR OFFICIAL CONTACTS AT THE MFA, WOULD MAKE ANY STATEMENT IN WELLINGTON ABOUT THE AGREEMENT. HE WOULD PRESUMABLY FIRST WISH TO CONSULT MR LANGE ABOUT SUCH A STATEMENT. YOU WILL THEREFORE NO DOUBT WISH UKMIS NEW YORK (OR PERHAPS THE SECRETARY OF STATE HIMSELF) TO REQUEST MR LANGE EITHER TO MAKE SUCH A STATEMENT HIMSELF IN NEW YORK OR TO AUTHORISE MR PALMER TO MAKE IT IN WELLINGTON. I MYSELF PROPOSE TO ASK MR PALMER TO CONSULT WITH MR LANGE ABOUT A STATEMENT.

O'LEARY

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

HD/PLANNING STAFF

HD/PUSD

DEP HD/PUSD

RESEARCH D (MR WALKER)

LEGAL ADVISERS (SIR J FREELAND) PS

PS/LADY YOUNG

PS/MR LUCE

PS/PUS

SIR W HARDING

SIR C TICKELL

MR GOODALL

MR DEREK THOMAS MR. BOYD

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 DEPT

MR BICKFORD LEGAL ADVISERS

MR FIFOOT LEGAL ADVISERS

MR POWELL NO 10 DOWNING ST.

MR INGHAM NO 10 DOWNING ST.

MR MARTIN ASSESSMENTS STAFF CABINET OFFIC MR CARTLEDGE CABINET OFFICE

MR COLVIN

CABINET OFFICE

PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE

PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL

SIR P CRADOCK ROOM K195

SIR P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING ST.

SECRET

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