GR 900
SECRET
DESKBY 23083OZ
FM HONG KONG 230755Z AUG 82
TO IMMEDIATE F C O
SECRET
TELEGRAM NUMBER 904 OF 23 AUGUST
FOLLOWING PERSONAL FOR CLIFT
M.I.F.T.
OP COPY
HKK 040/3
*
DICMED IN RIDG
2 3 AUG 1982
INDEX
m
FOLLOWING ARE COMMENTS OF DETAIL ON THE PAPER AS SET OUT IN YOUR
TELNO 631
ZA
IN PARA 1, ''SEVEN-EIGHTHS'' SHOULD READ **NINETY-TWO PER
CENT''.
2. THE PROBLEM OF LOCAL LEASES (PARA 4) SHOULD BE REFERRED TO, AFTER PARA 32, AS AN INCIDENTAL DIFFICULTY WHICH NEED TO BE DEALT WITH BEFORE TOO LONG IN THE LIGHT OF THE DISCUSSION ON THE MAIN
ISSUES. WE SHOULD NOT COMPLICATE THE PM'S DISCUSSIONS BY INTRODUCING
THE ISSUE THERE.
3. IN PARA 6 ELEVATE (D) TO BECOME THE FIRST POINT AND INSERT
''EXTREME'' BEFORE DIFFICULTY.
4. IN PARA 7 RELEGATE LAST SENTENCE TO THE NEW PARA AFTER PARA 32 (SEE PARA 2 ABOVE) AND INCORPORATE FIRST SENTENCE
INTO PARA 6.
5. IN PARA 8 FOR FIFTH AND SIXTH SENTENCES, SUBSTITUTE 'WHEREAS MANY MAY NOT HAVE EMOTIONAL TIES TO THE UK, ALL VALUE THE FREEDOM
OF LIFE UNDER BRITISH ADMINISTRATION AND THE LIFESTYLE THEY HAVE
DEVELOPED UNDER IT**.
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6. INCORPORATE PARA 9 INTO 'STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES''
7. PARTS OF PARA 10 FAIL TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE FACT THAT CHINESE
FEELING OVER HONG KONG IS A NATIONAL ONE. IT IS NOT A MATTER OF
**COMMUNIST DOCTRINE'. CHIANG SOUGHT TO RECOVER HONG KONG IN 1945
AND FEW CHINESE WOULD ACCEPT THAT IT IS NOT CHINESE TERRITORY.
8. PARA 12 FIRST SENTENCE : SEE PARA 1 ABOVE. AFTER CHINESE
SUFFERANCE** ADD AND ONLY THEN WITH A REMOTE PROSPECT OF ECONOMIC
SUCCESS'
9. ON PARA 13, FOURTH SENTENCE. THE HONG KONG CHINESE HAVE PLAYED
THE LARGEST PART IN MAKING HONG KONG PROSPEROUS. THE BRITISH
CONTRIBUTION HAS BEEN TO PROVIDE THE ENVIRONMENT, STABLE
ADMINISTRATION AND SYSTEM OF LAW IN WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
DO SO. IN THE LAST SENTENCE BEGIN WITH THE WORDS HMG HAS THE
INTERNATIONAL STATUS WHICH
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