TNAG-1318-FCO40-1722-Future-of-Hong-Kong-views-and-involvement-of-the-European-Co-1984 — Page 28

30

CONFIDENTIAL

Following the reported conclusion of joint French

and Libyan troop withdrawals from Chad and President

Mitterrand's meeting on 15 November with Qadhafi, we

would welcome French views on their future relationship

with Libya. When the Prime Minister mentioned the

problem of British detainees on 25 October M. Cheysson

did not rule out support for efforts to secure their

release but implied that France was not strongly placed

to help. They may now be better placed.

3128.

We will wish to brief the French on the outcome of

the assessment procedure in Hong Kong and the timetable

for signature of the Agreement.

32 29.

On South Africa, we will wish to encourage the

French to share our view that, in spite of current

unrest and our own bilateral difficulties with the South

Africans, it remains in our broad interests to stick to

present policies and to oppose further isolation and

unjustified criticism of South Africa. This is

especially important now that serious negotiations over

the withdrawal of Cuban troops from Angola are underway.

The UK and France should do what they can to support US

efforts to negotiate with the South African and Angolan

Governments a package involving satisfactory arrangements

on the Cubans linked with a Namibia settlement. We will

also wish to stress the importance of the Nkomati process

in Mozambique and the need to do everything possible to

CONFIDENTIAL

/assist