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GR 230
SECRET
FM HONG KONG 170921Z SEP 80
TO IMMEDIATE F C O
SECRET
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1194 OF 17 SEPTEMBER
FOR SIR EDWARD YOUDE
FROM POLITICAL ADVISER
كما
некога
RECEIVED MARASC
15 SEP 1980
BESK DEC, NDEX
ملا
PA
22.1
mar
also at:HKKoHoli
ممله
Аінкк
1. WE SPOKE ABOUT THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S BRIEF ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG AND I HAVE DISCUSSED WITH THE GOVERNOR. HE AGREES THAT IT WOULD BE WRONG TO SUGGEST THAT WE ARE READY TO OPEN A DIALOGUE ON THE LONG-TERM FUTURE WHEN OUR OWN IDEAS ON WHAT TO
SAY ARE NOT CLEAR. HE THEREFORE SUGGESTS THAT IN THE SPEAKING NOTES IN PARA 1, THE LAST SENTENCE AND PERHAPS THE PENULTIMATE SENTENCE SHOULD BE OMITTED, AND THAT THE FIRST SENTENCE OF PARA 5 SHOULD BE TONED DOWN TO SAY THAT IT WAS NOT TOO SOON TO START THINKING SERIOUSLY ABOUT THE LONGER TERM FUTURE OF HONG KONG.
2. ALSO IN PARA 5 HE SUGGESTS:-
(A) FOR **NEW TERRITORIES LEASES'' SUBSTITUTE INDIVIDUAL LEASES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES''.
(B) DELETE ''NEED NOT AFFECT' AND SUBSTITUTE AVOIDS AFFECTING".
3. GENERALLY SPEAKING THE GOVERNOR SAYS HE HAS HAD DIFFICULTY COMMENTING ON THIS BRIEF BECAUSE OF ITS FORMAT AND BECAUSE THE ABSENCE OF THE COVERING NOTE LEAVES UNCLEAR WHAT EMPHASIS EACH SPEAKING POINT IS TO BE ACCORDED. HE THEREFORE HOPES THERE WILL BE TIME TO DISCUSS THE BRIEF IN HONG KONG. IN ANY CASE HE PRESUMES THE COVERING NOTE WILL MAKE THE OBVIOUS POINT THAT SINCE THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT IS NEWLY FORMED AND PREOCCUPIED WITH DOMESTIC AFFAIRS IT IS A BAD TIME TO PRESS IT ON AN ISSUE AS POLITICALLY DIFFICULT AS THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG, AND THAT IN ANY CASE THERE IS NO IMMEDIATE NEED TO DO SO, THOUGH THE SUBJECT SHOULD BE MENTIONED.
MACLEHOSE
LIMITED
55
48
HKM D
FED
PS
PS/MR BLAKER Psi Pus
SIR.E. YOUDE MR DONALD
SECRET