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likely to be parochial.
· 3 -
The Secretary of State can be fairly
De-
frank in speaking to the Executive Council, though there are
some subjects (eg New Territories leases, which is particularly
sensitive) on which their advice has not yet been sought.
fensive points to make are provided, together with background
notes (Brief No 8). Vietnamese refugees, the future of Hong
Kong, capital punishment, the performance of British Airways
are among the subjects likely to be raised.
9. Some members of the Executive Council may wish to raise
the question of the Governor's successor (they would do so
privately). Sir Murray MacLehose's appointment has been ex-
A new tended four times and now expires in April 1980.
Governor will need to be selected in the autumn of this year
if he is to have time to prepare himself.
PRESS CONFERENCE
10. The press conference will be open to both the international
and local press. The latter will be concerned mainly, though
not exclusively, with domestic issues. Many of the questions will be on topics which will already have been discussed with
the Executive Council, but the same line will not always be
appropriate, separate talking points are therefore provided
(Brief No 9).
SUPPORTING PAPERS
11. Copies of the following papers are attached for general
background: -
(a) The Hong Kong Annual Review or 1978
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/(b)