CONFIDENTIAL
copied to Mr. Rooney
File (3)
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
mo fling
3013
Sir Murray MacLehose GBE KCMG KCVO Governor and Commander-in-Chief HONG KONG
London SW1A 2AH
8 March 1982
MIR 014/1
+30/1
1982
HKCK 340/1 (FE) 1981
Dear Murray,
HONG KONG ANNUAL REVIEW 1981
८६८
NO
11/3
Plas 1113
Sea HHK
1. Thank you for, your despatch of 18 February which we are arranging to be printed in the General Series. Once again, it will provide a very valuable background picture for the wide range of people in London and overseas who now find dealings with Hong Kong increasingly frequent.
one.
2. It is good that the picture is generally such an encouraging
In the area of UK/Hong Kong relations we are of course in close' touch about how to prevent a recurrence of the problems of 1981. Looked at from this end, we naturally share your concern about the bilateral follow-up to the MFA extension. We have no illusions about the difficulties of the forthcoming negotiations but it is also true that those directly concerned at this end, particularly in the Department of Trade, have a very clear understanding of Hong Kong's concerns. This does not guarantee a satisfactory outcome but it does mean that mistakes will not be made for the lack of sufficient contact.
3.
We shall be writing separately about the point raised in paragraph 10 of your despatch on nomenclature in passports. As the Lord Privy Seal explained in his message in FCO Telegram No 800 of 16 October 1981, this is a very difficult area. It would be wrong to think that we can, by administrative means, juggle with the designation in passports without legislation.
4.
We were very sorry to hear that you had not been well and hope that you are now fully recovered.
Juus
Dick
R D Clift
Hong Kong and General Department
CONFIDENTIAL