TNAG-1339-FCO40-1771-Visit-by-Margaret-Thatcher--UK-Prime-Minister--to-Beijing-fo-1984 — Page 322

CONFIDENTIAL

demonstrate the personal concern of the Prime Minister

for the future of the territory and the smooth implementation of the Sino-British agreement; to convey to the international community a sense of Britain's confidence in Hong Kong's continued role as a business and financial centre; and to encourage Hong Kong people to work to build their own future.

We envisage that our briefing, apart from the steering brief, will need to comprise:

(i) a brief on the future, covering

(ii)

(a)

(b)

points to make in informal conversation (eg at the UMELCO lunch, the reception and the Government House dinner), including defensive briefing on aspects of the agreement that have aroused most concern in Hong Kong;

background, which will in part be a duplication of 6(ii), but will go into more detail about Hong Kong concerns.

a background brief covering other items on the programme.

We are already working on the speech which the Prime Minister will deliver to the joint meeting of EXCO and LEGCO, and shall let you have a draft in good time.

I am sending copies of this letter to Callum McCarthy (DTI) and Michael Reidy (DOE) and to Richard Hatfield (Cabinet Office).

C D Powell Esq

10 Downing Street

CONFIDENTIAL

Ya

ever

Zate Zicketts

(P F Ricketts) Private Secretary