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time we are completely disregarding the Chinese susceptibilities over Hong Kong, e.g. on such questions as visits by heavy or nuclear- powered United States warships. In fact to give the operation best chance it should if possible coincide with some conciliatory gesture e.g. accelerated release for some prisoners in Hong Kong, which would allow the Chinese to claim that they were responding only to gestures in Hong Kong and not to ouside pressures,
Foreign Office pass Priority to Hong Kong 402.
Sir D. Hopson
[Repeated as requested]
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
F.O.
F.E.D.
P.U.S.D.
Consular Dept.
News Dept.
C.O. DSAO
H.K.D.
Personnel Dept.
Communications Dept.
EEEEE
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