3
GRS 201
SECRET
DESKBY 030100Z
FM FCO 30150OZ SEP 83
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
SECRET
HKK 013/1
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY 30CT 1983
TELEGRAM NUMBER 992 OF 30 SEPTEMBER
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING DESKBY 030100Z
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
REGISTR -
Action Taken
FEB
YOUR TELNOS 1450 AND 1451: FUTURE OF HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL SPEECH
1. WE AGREE GENERALLY WITH TEXT IN YOUR SECOND TUR. YOU MAY
HOWEVER WISH TO DRAW ON THE FOLLOWING SUGGESTIONS.
(A)
REFERENCE TO CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG PEOPLE'S WELL-KNOWN
RESILIENCE AND ABILITY TO OVERCOME UNCERTAINTY.
(B) REFERENCE TO RUMOURS ON HONG KONG'S FUTURE BEING DAMAGING.
IN EVERYONE'S INTERESTS THAT THE TALKS BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE
IN A CALM ATMOSPHERE.
(C) EMPHASIS ON UNDERLYING STRENGTHS OF HONG KONG'S ECONOMY AND
ON UNJUSTIFIED NATURE OF RECENT MANIFESTATIONS OF GLOOM AND
DESPONDENCY.
2. WE SUGGEST AFTER WORDS FURTHER TALKS IN PARA 2 OF SPEECH, ADDITION OF 'IN LONDON WITH THE PRIME MINISTER, WITH THE FOREIGN
AND COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY AND OTHER MINISTERS, AS PART OF THIS
CONTINUING SERIES OF DISCUSSIONS.'
3. YOU MAY ALSO WISH TO REMOVE 'AT THIS JUNCTURE' FROM FIRST
SENTENCE OF PARA 3. IT IS OF COURSE CLEAR THAT THE NEGOTIATIONS
ARE AT A CRITICAL STAGE BUT IT MIGHT BE BETTER NOT EVEN TO IMPLY
THIS OFFICIALLY BY SINGLING OUT THE PRESENT TIME AS REQUIRING
SPECIAL CONFIDENTIALITY.
HOWE
LEGAL ADVISER
LEGAL ADVISER
NEWS D
ASSESSMENTS STAFF
CABINET OFFICE
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
LIMITED
COPIES TO
SIR IAN SINCLAIR
MR BURROWS
HD/HKD
HD/FED
MR ROBERTS
HD/PLANNING STAFF
MR MARTIN
HD/PUSD
PS
PS/LADY YOUNG
MR FLOWER
PUSD
PS/MR LUCE
MR COLES
PS/PUS
SIR J BULLARD
MR GIFFARD
MR DONALD MR WRIGHT
SECRET
NO 10 DOWNING STREET
SIR A PARSONS NO 10 DOWNING STREET
MR WALKER RESEARCH D OAB 2/82
T
D
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