TNAG-1334-FCO40-1766-Future-of-Hong-Kong-legislation-1984 — Page 12

CONFIDENTIAL

PROBLEM. IT WAS THE INCLUSION OF THE REFERENCE TO HONG KONG WHICH CAUSED VERY GREAT DIFFICULTY FOR THE CHINESE. ZHOU SAID HE VERY MUCH HOPED THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WOULD USE ITS WELL-KNOWN

RESOURCESFULNES TO THINK OF ANOTHER FORMULA.

6. THE SECRETARY OF STATE STRESSED THAT WE HOPED THE CHINESE RESPONSE TO THESE PROBLEM WOULD SE CHARACTERISED BY THE SPIRIT OF COOPERATION WHICH HAD BEEN MENTIONED SO OFTEN IN PUBLIC AND IN PRIVATE OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS.

7. IN THE COURSE OF THE DISCUSSION ZHOU NAN REMINDED THE SECRETARY OF STATE THAT WU HAD EXPRESSED A STRONG WISH TO INVITE THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND HIS FAMILY TO PAY A PRIVATE VISIT TO CHINA AS HIS GUEST TO GO DOWN THE YANGTZE GORGES. ZHOU SIAD WU HAD ASKED HIM TO MAKE THIS POINT AGAIN BEFORE THE SECRETARY OF STATE LEFT. THE SECRETARY OF STATE SAID HE WOULD BE HAPPY TO ACCEPT IN PRINCIPLE BUT COULD GIVE NO COMMITMENT ON TIMING. ZHOU MAN SAID THAT THIS WAS PERFECTLY UNDERSTOOD.

YOUDE

52

HONG KONG AGREEMENT

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

HD/PLANNING STAFF

HD/PUSD

DEP HD/PUSD

RESEARCH DEPT (MR WALKER) PS

PS/MR LUCE

PS/PUS

SIR W HARD ING

MR WILSON

SIR J FREELAND

MR J CROWLEY, PUSE

COPIES TO:(VIA ADR)

MR ROBERTS, NEWS DEPT

MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS MR BURROWS, LEGAL ADVISERS

MR MARTIN, ASST STAFF CABINET

OFFICE

MR CARTLEDGE, CABINET OFFICE MR COLVIN, CABINET OFFICE SIR P CRADOCK, NO 10 DOWNING ST

CONFIDENTIAL