TNAG-1313-FCO40-1688-Future-of-Hong-Kong-views-and-involvement-of-Australia--Cana-1984 — Page 207

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GRS 200

SECRET

FM OTTAWA 12210OZSEPT 84

TO PRIORITY FCO

SECRET

TELEGRAM NUMBER 499 OF 12 SEPTEMBER

INFO ROUTINE TO HONG KONG AND PEKING

-109

113

HKK Grid 6.

TOPP

RECEN

1985

13SEP 198

DESK OFFICEM

INDEX

*

PA

RY

aker

Top 12119.

YOUR TELNOS 756 AND 785 TO CANBERRA: FUTURE OF HONG KONG: BRIEFING

OUR ALLIES

1. ALTHOUGH THE GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING THE NEW SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, WILL NOT TAKE OFFICE UNTIL 17 SEPTEMBER

THE AUGURIES FOR OBTAINING A POSITIVE STATEMENT WELCOMING THE

AGREEMENT ARE GOOD.

2. OFFICIALS HAVE CONSISTENTLY TAKEN A HELPFUL LINE (CF BAKER'S TELELETTER TO CLIFT OF 24 JULY), AND HAVE BEEN WATCHING PROGRESS

SYMPATHETICALLY. IN THE LIGHT OF FIRST TUR WE HAVE THANKED THEM

AGAIN FOR THEIR HELPFUL LINE, STRESSED THAT WE WILL WANT TO ENSURE A GOOD RECEPTION FOR THE AGREEMENT, AND OUR HOPE IN THAT CONNECTION

THAT THEY WOULD BE BRIEFING THE NEW MINISTER. THEY ASSURED US THAT

A BRIEF IS ALREADY WAITING FOR HIM, TOGETHER WITH A BID TO

BRIEF HIM IN MORE DETAIL EARLY ON.

3. IN THE LIGHT OF PARA 8 OF SECOND TUR WE ARE NOW SPELLING OUT

MORE CLEARLY OUR HOPE THAT, WHEN THE TIME COMES, THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT WILL SPEAK PUBLICLY IN POSITIVE TERMS ABOUT THE AGREEMENT

AND THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG. EXACTLY WHAT THE CANADIANS FEEL ABLE

TO SAY WILL DEPEND TO SOME EXTENT ON THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT IN

ITS FINAL FORM.

4. WE ARE MAKING PLANS TO INFLUENCE PRESS, BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL

CIRCLES. THEIR VIEWS ARE LIKELY TO BE AFFECTED TO SOME EXTENT

BY THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT'S VIEWS, BUT EVEN MORE BY REACTIONS AND

RECEPTION IN HONG KONG ITSELF: AND ESPECIALLY WHAT THEY READ

IN THE SOUTH CHINA POST. DAY

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

SECRET

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 O 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.