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8. However, before we reach that stage, I suggest that we should make another approach to the Chinese on the general issue. We have of course made a number of such representations, most recently during the Defence Secretary's visit to Peking and, by the Governor, when
the Chinese Foreign Minister visited Hong Kong in March. These have
so far produced no evident result. It must be admitted that a fresh approach might be no more successful. But in view of the assurances we have received at a high level that more effective action would be taken, we must at the very least point out that so far there has only been a renewed deterioration. Moreover, it will be important to demonstrate, both in Hong Kong and in London, that every effort was
made with the Chinese before new measures were taken. We need to
consult Hong Kong and Peking about the means of applying such pressure. There is a strong case for doing this at Ministerial level in London.
We have not used this channel for some time.
9. In making this general approach, we should not volunteer any- thing to the Chinese about Hong Kong's contingency plans. To do so would tend to reduce the impact of our request for action on their
side.
If they repeated the argument that more should be done in Hong Kong, we could say that this was under serious consideration, without giving details at that stage.
14 May 1980
Вир
R D Clift
Hong Kong and General Department
1. I agree in general with the Department's advice, ie that we should endorse the Governor's contingency proposals and meanwhile have another go at the Chinese, preferably in London.
2. However, I think we must make it clear to Sir M MacLehose that all we are doing is agreeing that he should go ahead with preparing draft legistation, consulting EXCO as required. In the first part of
/his
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