TNAG-1338-FCO40-1770-Visit-by-Margaret-Thatcher--UK-Prime-Minister--to-Beijing-fo-1984 — Page 72

GRS 210

CONFIDENTIAL

DESKDY 2316CCZ F C O

DESKBY 24010OZ PEKING

!

CONFIDENTIAL

HKK 040/57

RECEIVED IN PREISTBY:

2 6 NOV 1984

127

FM HONG KONG 20125OZ NOV 34

TO IMMEDIATE F C O

DES

FIC

TELERGAM NUMBER 0529 OF 23 NOVEMBER

INDEX

TUFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

•

122

YOUR TELO 1438 TO PEKING : FUTURE OF HONG KONG

VISIT: PARA 2 : ANNOUNCEMENT.

PRIME

80

INISTER'S

1. THE PRESS HERE ARE BEGINNING TO SUSPECT THAT DIFFICULTIES HAVE

ARISEN OVER THE SIGNATURE OF THE AGREEMENT, I WAS CLOSELY

QUESTIONED DY THE PRESS THIS AFTERNOON ON WHY NO ANNOUNCEMENT HAD

SEEN MADE EITHER ON WHEN THE SIGNATURE CEREMONY WOULD TAKE PLACE OR

ON WHO WOULD SIGN: AND ALSO ON WHAT DIFFICULTIES WERE HOLDING THINGS

UP. I ASSURED THEM THERE WERE NO SNAGS AND IT WAS SIMPLY A QUESTION OF FINDING THE APPROPRIATE DATE WHICH WOULD SUIT ALL CONCERNED.

2. NOW THAT THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS IS FINISHED, UNLESS AN ANNOUNCE- MENT IS MADE SOON I WOULD EXPECT SPECULATION ABOUT DIFFICULTIES TO GROW. FROM THE HONG KONG POINT OF VIEW THEREFORE THE SOONER THE ANNOUNCEMENT CAN BE MADE THE BETTER. YOU MAY WISH TO CONSIDER WITH PEKING A DRAFT TEXT OF THE KIND OF ANNOUNCEMENT YOU WOULD WISH TO SEE MADE SINCE THIS WOULD PRESUMABLY NEED TO BE AGREED WITH THE CHINESE AND ADVANCE DISCUSSION WOULD AVOID FURTHER DELAY. THE LONDON ANNOUNCEMENT WILL NEED TO MENTION THE VISIT TO HONG KONG.

YOUDE

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

HD/PLANNING STAFF

HD/PUSD

DEP HD/PUSD

RESEARCH D (MR WALKER)

PS

PS/LADY YOUNG PS/MR LUCE PS/PUS

MR DEREK THOMAS

SIR W HARDING MR GOODALL MR WILSON

SIR J FREELAND

COPIES TO:-

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL PS/HOME SECRETARY

PS/CHANCELLOR OF TH EXCHEQUER

PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL

PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE & INDUSTRY

COPIES TO:- (VIA ADR)

MR ROBERTS NEWS D

MR FIFOOT LEGAL ADVISERS MR BURROWS LEGAL ADVISERS MR POWELL NO 10 DOWNING ST. MR INGHAM NO 10 DOWNING ST.

MR MARTIN ASST STAFF CABINET OFFICE MR CARTLEDGE

CABINET OFFICE

MR COLVIN CABINET OFFICE PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE

PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL

SIR P CRADOCK ROOK K195

SIR P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING ST. MR KELLY TREASURY

CONFIDENTIAL