289
CONFIDENTIAL
Mr Jenkins, EID(E)
cc:
Mr Cortazzi (with papers) Mr Stewart, HKGD
Mr Mellon, TRED
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Риспроба 4.KK 121/61671... Jes
11 NOV
1 Ke
307
HONG KONG AND THE MFA
1. I am extremely worried by Mr Stewart's minute of 3 November, because the pressures are building up in Hong Kong. I have little doubt that Mr Tran and the other EEC negotiators are no match for the abilities and technical knowledge of Mr Jordan. Nor am I absolutely convinced that the cut-backs, even if they are penal, will have such dire consequences as the Hong Kong Government and leading industrialists there fear. But the point is they do fear these consequences. And the most pressing problem is the feeling in Hong Kong that the British Government have let them down. Added to this we now have a renewed belief, recorded in Mr Stewart's minute, that Britain has led the pack against Hong Kong. At present this belief is held by only a small circle there, but, in the present mood in Hong Kong, it will spread rapidly.
2.
Finally, I heard on the BBC over the weekend that Hong Kong has been given a six-day ultimatum to sign the MFA "or else".
3. It is therefore most important that we should be able to show, without risk of contradiction, that we have honoured the undertaking to the Governor that we would try to help Hong Kong in the MFA negotiations. The Governor is returning for consultations in the next two weeks (unless the ugly police situation prevents him) and this will be a major topic. Frankly, I would expect him to say that Britain has been dishonest; and I personally do not have the knowledge to contradict this. Could you let me have something by close of play on Thursday which could then be discussed if necessary in the Hong Kong Standing Committee on 11 November.
D F Murray
7 November 1977
CONFIDENTIAL
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