HKD 022/1
4 MAR 1992
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COVERING CONFIDENTIAL
fa. ja/z
TALKS WITH THE PORTUGUESE POLITICAL DIRECTOR, 6/7 FEBRUARY
HONG KONG (DEFENSIVE)
Portuguese proposal for Troika discussion of Hong Kong
- As we discussed on 13 January, we have no problem with a
Troika meeting with Qian Qichen in Lisbon on 18 March, but
we would object strongly to any discussion of Hong Kong and Macau in the Troika format. (Chinese are paranoid about any attempt to "internationalise" these issues and would react
very strongly).
The New Governor/unsettling waiting period for Hong Kong
Sir David Wilson has the Government's full confidence.
And he has made it clear that he will ensure there is no let
up in the efficient conduct of Hong Kong Government business
between now and the appointment of his successor.
- The new Governor will be appointed after the general
election here. We shall take careful note of the views
expressed in Hong Kong.
Relations with China
The Prime Minister's visit to Peking last September helped put relations back on track (as well as reaching agreement on Airport project). During that visit he and
Premier Li Peng agreed upon the need to speed up the pace of business in the Sino-British Joint Liaison Group. We
hope to see faster progress now, given the immense amount of ground still to be covered by 1997.
Chinese remain suspicious of our motives and tend to
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