DRAFT
DSR 11C
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TO BE INSERTED IN SUBMISSION
10.
Another idea, suggested by the Ambassador in Peking
and the Governor in Hong Kong, is the use of influential
Hong Kong Chinese businessmen, to help bring home to the
PRC authorities in an informal way the reality of the
situation vis-à-vis the future, particularly from
a business viewpoint. This needs to be handled very
carefully. We must avoid giving the impression that we want
to negotiate through intermediaries.
However, reliable
Hong Kong business leaders, if properly briefed, could
help to explain the importance to Hong Kong's trade,
commercial and financial sectors of a continuation of
British administration, and to underline Hong Kong's deep
and intricate involvement in international treaties
and agreements which would be greatly affected by any
change in HMG's responsibility for external affairs.
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/ul.