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Mr Steweet fees
cc
PS to Lord Goronwy-Roberts Mr Larmour o/r
Mr Lewis (GGD)
Mr Smith (Economists)
Mr Hurst
Mr Male
Mr Rushford
Mr Walker (POD) Mr Moberly (PPD) Mr Lipsey
8
HONG KONG PLANNING PAPER:
1.
FUTURE ACTION
I agree with you that we must monitor carefully progress on the planning paper not least because I have doubts about the willing- ness and determination of some officials and unofficials in Hong Kong to put the programme into effect in the time scale envisaged, but it is essential, if we are to avoid friction or explosions which could be counter-productive to our aims, to move with great tact and care. We must in particular try to carry the Governor with us. You have proposed that you should write to the Governor describing your proposals in paragraphs 2 8 and that you should discuss the appointment of an FCO Chef de Cabinet with Sir Murray MacLehose during your visit to Hong Kong in October. I think that you should in fact be prepared to discuss all the proposals while you are in Hong Kong even though you will, of course, need to make it clear that these are in the final analysis matters for us decide. I should prefer therefore that at this stage your letter to the Governor should be drafted in a low key stressing that these are preliminary ideas for discussion prior to submission to Ministers.
2. In particular I agree with your proposals on outward and inward visits, paragraphs 5 and 6. I also endorse the idea of a small standing committee to meet quarterly (paragraph 7). I also want to underline the need to keep the China dimension in mind (paragraph 8): this is especially important at this moment of uncertainty in China.
3. I should like to see your proposed letter to the Governor in draft.
Arc
HAH Cortazzi
13 September 1976
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