TNAG-1313-FCO40-1688-Future-of-Hong-Kong-views-and-involvement-of-Australia--Cana-1984 — Page 20

CONFIDENTIAL

K

BACKGROUND

The Secretary of State is aware of the background to the future of Hong Kong.

1.

2.

3.

The Secretary of State wrote to Mr Clark on 25 September about the draft agreement. On 26 September the Department of External Affairs issued a press release which said that Mr Clark warmly welcomed the initialling of the agreement. He congratulated both sides for their skill in hammering out the document over two years of complex discussions. He said that the Government of Canada had a strong interest in the maintenance of Hong Kong's stability and prosperity and it regarded the draft agreement as a highly significant and constructive step in this regard.

4.

Canadian officals have told our High Commission in Ottawa that they would like clarification early in the New Year on a number of areas connected with the draft agreement. Mr Clark intends to mention this to the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State might like to ask Mr Clark how he thinks this could best be done.

The Canadians particularly want clarification on nationality, civil aviation and multilateral trading arrangements (eg GATT and MFA), with a view to making a more detailed public statement in due

course.

THIS IS A COPY

THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN

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CLOSED FOR

40 YEARS UNDER FOI EXEMPTION No. 27 (4)

Hong Kong Department

7 December 1984

CONFIDENTIAL