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AN UNDERTAKING WOULD HAVE TO BE DISCRETIONARY, BUT MY
THOUGHT IS THAT IT WOULD BE REASONABLE TO SAY THAT ANYONE
WHOSE SERVICE HAD PLACED HIM IN AN EXPOSED POSITION WOULD
BE TREATED SYMPATHETICALLY IN AN EMERGENCY. THIS COULD
BE ANALOGOUS TO THE UNDERTAKING WHICH HAS BEEN GIVEN TO
THE FALKLAND ISLANDS, ALBEIT FOR DIFFERENT REASONS:
FOR OBVIOUS REASONS IN THE CASE OF HONG KONG, IT WOULD
HAVE TO BE KEPT SECRET.
IF YOU AGREE THAT THIS IS A POSSIBLE WAY TO TACKLE WHAT WE
KNOW IS A VERY DIFFICULT PROBLEM, OUR NEXT TALKS WOULD BE TO
EXPLORE THE POINTS WITH SENIOR OFFICIALS AND MINISTERS.
PERSONALLY I THINK THAT IF WE ATTEMPT TO MAKE SUBSTANTIAL AMEND-
MENTS TO THE BILL IN THE DIRECTION OF GIVING HONG KONG RESIDENTS
WHAT CRITICS WILL SEE AS A BACK DOOR TO FULL BRITISH CITIZENSHIP,
WE ARE LIKELY TO COME TO GRIEF. OUR SOUNDINGS IN THE HOME OFFICE
CONFIRM THIS. IF ON THE OTHER HAND, WE TREAT THE PROBLEM AS
A MORAL AND POLITICAL ONE REQUIRING SOME KIND OF SECRET UNDER-
TAKING, IN CONJUNCTION WITH MINOR BUT IMPORTANT AMENDMENTS TO THE
BILL, THIS HAS A BETTER CHANCE OF SECURING GOVERNMENT AND
PARLIAMENTARY SYMPATHY.
THIS TELEGRAM RAISES SOME PARTICULARLY DELICATE ISSUES AND
I WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD TREAT IT AS ENTIRELY PERSONAL
FROM ME.
g.
CARRINGTON
LIMITED
HKGD
HD|NTD
PS/MR LUCE
(1)
SIR E YOUDE
MR DONALD
3
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