CONFIDENTIAL
123
GRS 150
MEDIATE
CYPHER CAT A
FM PEKING 188300Z
CONFIDENTIAL
DESKBY FCO 1809002
TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELNO 571 OF 18.9.78
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG.
HONG KONG TELNOS 1102, 1107 AND 1109.
RELLIVES
7 NO. 51
358 10973
DAK OFFICES
PA
R
Action Teken
Y
INDEX
No
1a 1 AM AWARE THAT THERE ARE STRONG LOCAL SENSITIVITIES IN
HONG KONG ON THIS SORT OF ISSUE AND THE CHINESE MIGHT BE TRYING TO PRISE OPEN THE DOOR TO OFFICIAL REPRESENTATION. HOWEVER,"
I BELIEVE THAT SINO-BRITISH RELATIONS HAVE DEVELOPED TO THE POINT
WHERE WE SHOULD NOT SNUB THE CHINESE UNLESS OUR VITAL INTERESTS
DEPEND ON DOING SO. IN THE PRESENT CASE, I THINK WE CAN ASSUME THAT THE CHINESE HAVE MADE THEIR CALCULATIONS ABOUT LOCAL REACTIONS
AND HAVE CONCLUDED THAT THE BOAT WILL NOT BE ROCKED IN A WAY WHICH
BOTH SIDES WOULD CONSIDER UNDESIRABLE.
2. I THINK WE SHOULD REGARD THE CHINESE INITIATIVE AS A POSITIVE
STEP DESIGNED TO MARK THE PATENTLY IMPROVED STATE OF SINO-BRITISH
RELATIONS, AND RESPOND POSITIVELY, 1 AGREE WITH HONG KONG TELMO. 1109 TO YOU THAT THE GOVERNOR WHOULD ACCEPT ON THE TERMS PROPOSED.
DAVIES
FILES
HK & GD
FED
PUSD
NEWS D
OID
PS
PS/LORD GORONWY ROBERTS
PS/PUS
MR STRATTON
MR MURRAY
:
CONFIDENTIAL