CONFLEEMI TAL
Chinese assurances it was because we considered them to be genuine and relevant. We were also aware of opinion in Hong Kong and elsewhere that such assurances were not in themselves sufficient to dispel all concern about the future. I suggested that if he wanted better informed comment on Sir Jack's speech, he should follow this up with you on his return to Hong Kong.
4. Porter went on to suggest, interestingly, that one of the main fears in Hong Kong was that parliament in the UK would refuse to ratify a prolongation of the Lease if this was what the Chinese wanted. I thought this was rather far-fetched, unless one envisaged the election of a Parliament of radically different complexion to the present one: even then, the 1974 Portuguese government had not succeeded in ridding themselves of Macao, even if they may, for a period, have wished to do this for its own sake and with little concern about embarrassing the Chinese.
5. I have since checked the files here and cannot find any copy of or reference to Sir Jack Cater's speech or any significant press reaction to it. It is possible that Porter was just fishing - but if so his interpretation of the message we should like to get across to the Chinese is not far wide of the mark. It would be interesting to see a copy of the speech and have your views on how it was received.
co:
RC Fursland Esq, FED, FCO FR Williamson Esq, HKGD, FCO
CONFIDENTIAL
ес
K Sullivan First Secretary