GPS 200
SECRET
SECRET
FM HONG KONG 1704002 MAR 82
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 260 OF 17 MARCH
INFO PEKING ( PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR)
125
нки ото
M
17 MAR (C2
AL
W
See (127
FROM GOVERNOR FOR CLIFT, HKGD: YOUR TEL NO 1584 PEKING TELNO $53 (24/3
FUTURE OF HONG KONG.
Toy
IF I AM ASKED WHETHER CONTINUED BRITISH ADMINISTRATION IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF CONFIDENCE I WILL ANSWER 'YES-
FOR THE TIME BEING''.
114
2. I DO NOT THINK ANY CHINESE LEADER WOULD DISPUTE THAT AFTER THE
UPHEAVALS OF THE LAST 10 OR EVEN 30 YEARS IT WILL TAKE A LONG
PERIOD OF CONSISTENT AND PRAGMATIC GOVERNMENT IN CHINA TO COMMAND
SUFFICIENT CONFIDENCE AMONGST HONG KONG PEOPLE OR FOREIGN INVESTORS
TO AVOID RISK OF WHOLESALE DISINVESTMENT AT THE PROSPECT OF A CHINESE TAKEOVER. THOUGH ONE CANNOT SAY HOW LONG THE CONSTRUCTION
OF CONFIDENCE MAY TAKE, IT IS INCONCEIVABLE THAT IT COULD BE
BUILT UP OVER THE TWO OR THREE YEARS LEFT BEFORE THE SHADOW OF THE
1898 ORDER-IN-COUNCIL STARTS A PROCESS OF DISINVESTMENT.
3. GRANTED THAT THE FINAL SOLUTION IS INCORPORATION IN CHINA AT SOME COMPARATIVELY DISTANT DATE, WHAT WE ARE CONCERNED WITH IS AN
INTERIM ARRANGEMENT. SINCE THE LATTERS OBJECTIVE WOULD BE AN ASSURANCE OF CONTINUITY FOR THE TIME BEING, I SEE NO PRACTICAL ALTERNATIVE TO CONTINUATION OF BRITISH ADMINISTRATION, LAW AND CURRENCY.
4. IF PUSHED TO EXPAND ON THE ANSWER IN PARA 1 I WILL SPEAK AS IN
SUCCEEDING PARAGAPHS.
MACLEHOSE
LIMITED
HD/HKGO
PS
FED
PS/LPS
MR WRIGHT
MR GIFFARO
MR DONALD
SECRET
COPIES SIR E YOUDE
то
c/o
HR GD
THIS TELEGRAM
WAS NOT ADVANCED