CONFIDENTIAL
政司辦公
廳
HKK 011/4
CR2/1146/76
Recent
CHIEF SECRETARY'S OFFICE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT HONG KONG
17 February 1978
JA B Stewart Esq QBE
2 7 FEB 1978
Hong Kong & General Department-
*..
FCO
LONDON SW1
INDEX
PA
Action Te
า
feels
See 10
Dear John,
Reform Club of Hong Kong
Thank you for your letter HKK 011/9 of
7 February about the public opinion poll commissioned by the Reform Club on elections to the Legislative Council.
2.
I have consulted the Governor about the suggested reply to be sent by you on the Secretary of State's behalf to the Reform Club's letter to him.
3.
He asks me to say that the terms of your reply to Bernacchi cause us some anxiety.
4.
We would be grateful if you would consider re-drafting the second paragraph of your letter to read as follows -
5.
"Although there are no plans to introduce elections to the Legislative Council, we are grateful to you for keeping us informed of your findings which have been studied with great interest".
The terms of your draft will, we feel be misconstrued here.
6.
No doubt in London, your word would be regarded as a polite but firm rejection. Here, however, they would be construed as amounting to encouragement of the Reform Club to continue to press for elections in Hong Kong.
James
ever,
Days
(Denys Roberts
CONFIDENTIAL