SSA
SEA
GR 160
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FM HONG KONG 200524Z SEP 80
TO IMMEDIATE F C O
FOR
AKKOZ
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TELEGRAM NUMBER 1216 OF 20 SEPTEMBER
・
24 SEP1080
No of 24,9
мо
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
YOUR TEL 829 OF 19 SEPT
MR WALTER EASEY
COPY
REUTERS MISQUOTED FCO SPOKESMAN AS SAYING QUOTE LORD CARRINGTON
WOULD CERTAINLY BE DISCUSSING THE LONG TERM FUTURE OF HONG KONG
DURING HIS VISIT BUT HE DISMISSED ALLEGATIONS OF A SECRET
SETTLEMENT AS SHEER SPECULATION UNQUOTE. THE WORDS QUOTE LONG TERM
FUTURE UNQUOTE MAY CAUSE PROBLEMS.
2. THE REUTERS REPORT HAS BEEN CARRIED ROUTINELY BY S C M POST
AND BY FIVE CHINESE NEWSPAPERS. HONG KONG STANDARD LONDON
CORRESPONDENT HEARN GOT IT RIGHT.
3. ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THIS MISQUOTATION BY REUTERS WOULD GIVE
EASEY ADDED PUBLICITY WHICH WE WISH TO AVOID. SUBJECT WILL ALMOST
CERTAINLY BE RAISED BY MEDIA HERE DURING LORD CARRINGTON'S
FORTHCOMING VISIT. SUGGEST WE DEAL WITH IT THEN.
4. IN REPLY TO ENQUIRIES HERE WE SHALL USE PARA. TWO OF YOUR
TELEGRAM AS THE AUTHORISED STATEMENT, TOGETHER WITH RELEVANT
MATERIAL IN RETRACT 71111 SEPT.
5. YOU MAY WISH TO INFORM PEKING.
MACLEHOSE
MINIMAL
HK & GD
FED NEWS D
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HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE
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