7
CONFIDENTIAL
5. THE ARGUMENTS IN FAVOUR SELM TO M» MUCH STRONGER:
(A) I HAVE DISCUSSED WITH THE SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WHO HAS URCED ME TO SIGN IN PERSON ON THE GROUNDS THAT MY ABSENCE WOULD BE SERIOUSLY MISUNDERSTOOD BY THE LOCAL POPULATION. LATTER'S REGARD FORMÃO AS THE HOST SUCCESSFUL LEADER OF THE CHINESE PEOPLE FOR MANY GENERATIONS AND AS ONE OF THE GREAT INTERNATIONAL FICURES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY, IS ODDLY COMPATIBLE WITH THEIR WISH TO REMAIN IN HONG KONG UNDER BRITISH
RULE.
(B) THE SENIOR UNOFFICIAL IS ALSO EMPHATIC THAT ON THIS OCCASION ALL MEMBERS OF UMELCO WILL FEEL OBLIGED TO PAY RESPECTS AND WOULD NOT AGREE TO BEING REPRESENTED BY A DELEGATION, AND THEY WOULD BE GREATLY RELIEVED IF I TOO DID SO AND THUS, AS IT WERE, GAVE THEM
CFFICIAL COVER.
(C) LOCAL RELATIONS WITH CPG OFFICIALS IN HONG KONG ARE EXCELLENT, AND I WOULD NOT WISH TO RISK DAMAGE THROUGH MISUNDERSTANDING.
WOUL (D) THE OCCASION IS FORTUNATELY UNIQUE SONO PRECEDENT WOULD BE INVOLVED WITH REGARD TO OTHER CHINESE PERSONALITIES OR TO FOREIGN STATES REPRESENTED IN HONG KONG (IN ANY CASE MAO IS NOT A HEAD OF STATE).
(E) RIGHT WING CRITICISM MAY BE DISREGARDED ON THIS OCCASION.
6. TO SUM UP I THINK MY PARTICIPATION WOULD BE SEEN AS A SIGN OF CONFIDENCE IN OUR RELATIONS WITH CHINA AND AS REPRESENTATIVE OF PUBLIC FEELINGS AS A WHOLE, RATHER THAN AS GIVING AWAY A LOCAL POLITICAL POINT. I WOULD THEREFORE LIKE YOUR AUTHORITY TO ACT AS PROPOSED, SUBJECT TON CNA ARRANGEMENTS BEING ALONG LINES
FORESEEN ABOVE.
MACLEHOSE
FILES
HKIO D
FED
PC D
PS
(4)
PSILORD GORONWY - RUBERIS
PST PUS
BAR CURTAZZI