HKK.026/5
RECEIVED IN REGÍSTRY.
FOR 22 JUL 1803
DES
INDEX
H
PA
etion 1.
(116)
CONFIDENTIAL
NO
6492
PP HONG KONG
GRS 221
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO 211430Z JUL
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
(104)
TELEGRAM NUMBER 664 OF 21 JULY
FOR GOVERNOR FROM CLIFT
FROM
YOUR TELNO 973: RECORDS OF UNOFFICIALS MEETINGS IN LONDON
1. RECORDS HAVE BEEN SENT BY BAG TO YOU (SECRETARY OF STATE'S
AND PRIME MINISTER'S MEETINGS) AND TO HIGGINSON (MR LUCE'S
MEETING.)
2.
NO 10 CAN NOT (NOT) AGREE TO RECORD OF PRIME MINISTER'S
MEETING BEING SHOWN TO EXCO OR ANY DIGEST OF IT GIVEN TO THEM
IN WRITING. THEY CANNOT ESTABLISH A PRECEDENT WHICH MIGHT GIVE
VISITORS THE NOTION THAT THEY COULD QUERY THE RECORDS OF MEETINGS
WITH THE PRIME MINISTER
3. THERE IS NO OBJECTION HOWEVER TO YOUR DRAWING ORALLY ON THE
RECORD OF THE PM'S MEETING IN BRIEFING EXCO.
4. YOU MAY SHOW THE RECORDS OF THE MEETING WITH THE SECRETARY
OF STATE AND MR LUCE TO EXCO UNDER THE PROCEDURES WHICH YOU
DESCRIBE. AT THE SAME TIME GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD UNDERLINE THAT
THIS IS AN EXCEPTIONAL PRACTICE (COVERING THE SPECIAL CASE OF
THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE CHINESE) AND DISCOURAGE THEM FROM ANY
ATTEMPT TO QUERY THE RECORDS. YOU SHOULD NOT GIVE THE IMPRESSION
THAT WE ARE NECESSARILY UNDERTAKING TO SHOW THEM IN FUTURE
RECORDS IN THE SAME STYLE AS THOSE WHICH ARE AT PRESENT UNDER CONSIDERATION (FOR YOUR INFORMATION WE MIGHT IN FUTURE PRODUCE FOR THIS PURPOSE RECORDS OF MAIN POINTS DISCUSSED, WITHOUT
ATTRIBUTION TO INDIVIDUAL SPEAKERS).
HOWE
NNNN
DISTRIBUTION
LIMITED
HKD
FED
PS
PS/MR LUCE
PS/PUS
MR DONALD
CONFIDENTIAL
+