TNAG-1343-FCO40-1773-Visit-by-Margaret-Thatcher--UK-Prime-Minister--to-Beijing-fo-1984 — Page 161

CONFIDENTIAL

ཙས

PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO CHINA AND HONG KONG, 18-21 DECEMBER 1984

HONG KONG

BRIEF NO 1: STEERING BRIEF

INTRODUCTION

1.

The Prime Minister visited Hong Kong in September 1982,

following her visit to Peking and agreement there to begin talks on the territory's future. There have since been a number of visits to the territory by FCO Ministers in connection with the negotiations: Sir Geoffrey Howe was there in April and July/August 1984, and Mr Richard Luce in September 1983 and July 1984.

OBJECTIVES

2.

i) To reassure Hong Kong at the highest level of our continued commitment to the territory and to the full implementation of the

agreement on

on its future.

ii) In particular to reaffirm our determination, through the Hong Kong Government, to administer the territory effectively and responsibly up to 1997.

iii) To encourage Hong Kong people to have confidence in the agreement and to build their own future.

THEME

3. Given the circumstances of the visit and its brevity, the only theme will be the future. This will be addressed in the Prime Minister's speech to EXCO and LEGCO, which will be the focal point of the visit. It will also of course be the dominating subject of Brief No 2 (The informal discussions and at the press conference. Future of Hong Kong), describes the main concerns felt by Hong Kong people about the future and the agreement. It also contains points to make (including defensive points) in informal conversation.

The programme is at Annex A. Personality notes are at Annex B.

PROGRAMME

4.

CONFIDENTIAL