CONFIDENTIAL
(111) WITHIN A MONTH OR TWO WE PROPOSE TO RESTRICT ENTRY TO HONG KONG EITHER ON THE BASIS OF A DAILY QUOTA OR BY MEANS OF
ENTRY PERMITS AND VISAS. WE HAVE NOT YET DECIDED THE PRECISE METHOD. (THIS WOULD GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CHINESE TO INDICATE WHICH METHOD WOULD BE LEAST OBJECTIONABLE, ALTHOUGH WE CANNOT HOPE FOR A CLEAR SIGNAL).
(IV) WE WILL GIVE AT LEAST ONE MONTH'S NOTICE OF THE DATE ON WHICH RESTRICTIONS ARE TO BE IMPOSED.
(V) HOWEVER, IF NEWS ABOUT A DECISION TO IMPOSE RESTRICTIONS LEAKS AND RESULTS IN A GREATLY INCREASED FLOW, WE WOULD THEN HAVE TO IMPOSE RESTRICTIONS MORE RAPIDLY.
8. IT IS FOR CONSIDERATION WHETHER THIS NEW APPROACH SHOULD BE MADE IN LONDON AND PEKING AS WELL AS HERE. AS SEEN FROM HERE, IT WOULD BE SUFFICIENT FOR THE POINTS TO BE MADE LOCALLY BY THE POLITICAL ADVISER, WITH CONFIRMATION IN LONDON AND PEKING IF THE SUBJECT IS MENTIONED THERE. I WOULD THEN PROPOSE TO TAKE THE FINAL DECISION ON A DATE FOR IMPOSING RESTRICTIONS (TO BE NOT LATER THAN 1 MAY) SOME TIME IN THE MIDDLE OF MARCH.
9. I WILL NEED TO GET EXECUTIVE COUNCIL APPROVAL FOR THIS POLICY. THE NEXT MEETING IS ON TUESDAY MORNING. GRATEFUL FOR AGREEMENT TO ACT AS ABOVE BY 0830 LOCAL ON TUESDAY, 20 FEBRUARY AT THE LATEST.
MACLEHOSE
FILES
HK & CD (6)
UND
SEAD
FED
PS
FS/LORD GORONWY ROBERTS FS/PUS
MR CORTAZZI
MR MURRAY
COPIES TO:
HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE
6 GRAFTON STREET, W.1.
3
CONFIDENTIAL