IMMEDIATE CYPHER/CAT A
GPS 295
FM HONG KONG 090445Z
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
AKK 382/16
51
- NOV 1977
TO IMMEDIATE F.C.O TELNO.1114 OF 9 NOVEMBER. BER.
INDEX
No as
I het.
غه
w/R
YOUR TELNO.857 : PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION: LORD RHODES.
93
1. YOUR PARA.2, I SUGGEST THE ANSWER SHOULD BE:
THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG'S DECISION TO GRANT A LIMITED AMNESTY
AND HIS SUBSEQUENT REFUSAL TO EXTEND IT IN ANY WAY ARE BOTH
FULLY SUPPORTED BY HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT.''
2. THOUGH WE ARE NOT OUT OF THE WOOD BY ANY MEANS, FOR THE
MOMENT IT APPEARS THAT WE HAVE AVERTED AN ATTEMPT TO OPERATE
''POLICE POWER'' BY RALLYING PEOPLE POWER'', 1.E BY
MOBILISATION OF EXPRESSIONS OF SUPPORT FOR THE TWO-LEGGED
STAND TAKEN THAT HAS BEEN UNIVERSAL AND REMARKABLE. I HAVE
NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT BEFORE. I BELIEVE IT IS THIS,
SUPPORTED BY THE DEMONSTRATION OF DETERMINATION THAT THE
EMERGENCY AMENDMENT TO THE POLICE ORDINANCE PROVIDED, THAT
TIPPED THE SCALES. IN VIEW OF THE TENDENTIOUS REPORTING IN
THE TIMES AND GUARDIAN IT WOULD BE USEFUL TO WORK THIS ASPECT
INTO REPLIES TO SUPPLEMENTARIES.
3. I SUGGEST SENTENCE ALONG THE FOLLOWING LINES: MIGHT BE USED:
''IT IS CLEAR THAT THE LIMITED AMNESTY THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED
WHEN COUPLED WITH AN ABSOLUTE REFUSAL TO GO FURTHER HAD OVERWHELMING AND INSTANTANEOUS LOCAL SUPPORT. THIS MASSIVE
AND IMMEDIATE MANIFESTATION OF SOLIDARITY BY THE PUBLIC
REFLECTS GREAT CREDIT ON THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COMMUNITY
IN HONG KONG, AND H.M.G WELCOME THE GOOD SENSE OF THE POLICE
FORCE IN IMMEDIATELY RECOGNISING THE SITUATION.
4. IN VIEW OF YOUR PARA.3 I HAVE TELEGRAPHED IMMEDIATELY. ANY
FURTHER SUGGESTIONS WILL FOLLOW IN THE LIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS
BETWEEN NOW AND 14TH NOVEMBER.
MACLENOSE
FILES
HK+GD(5)
ора
Ps.
ROBERTS MR MURRAY MR STRATTON
PS/LORD GORONWY
Ps/pus. SI'R A Duff MRCORTAZZI
NEWS A
PARC UNIT
CONFIDENTIAL
COPIES TO
HONGKONG GOUT OFFICE