GPS 300
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 130850Z MAY 83
TO ROUTINE PEKING
MKK040|1
RECEIVED NA RIGA
TELEGRAM NUMBER 231 OF 13 MAY
08 APR 1983
INFO FCO
OSK OFFICE”
INDEX
NG
RA
FUTURE OF HONG KO
13 MAY
HYMISTRY betion Taken
CHIOKS
SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR A GROUP OF LOCAL PROFESSIONAL AND BUSINESS PEOPLE, INCLUDING THE HONG KONG BELONGERS, HAS BEEN CONSIDERING ISSUING AN INVITATION TO THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AND ECONOMIC RELATIONS TO SEND A DELEGATION TO HONG KONG. IT HAS NOW ISSUED AN INVITATION FOR 14 DAYS BEGINNING IN THE MIDDLE OR END OF JUNE. THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THE PROPOSAL IS A LOCAL SOLICITOR,
WINSTON CHIU, BUT WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND OUT WHERE THE
PROPOSAL ORIGINALLY CAME FROM.
2. THE GROUP BELIEVES IT CAN EDUCATE THE DELEGATION IN THE COMPLEXITIES OF HONG KONG, IMPRESS THEM WITH THE NEED TO MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO, AND THEREBY INFLUENCE THE OUTCOME OF THE NEGOTIATIONS ON THE FUTURE. TO THIS END, A PROGRAMME OF VISITS TO INSTITUTIONS HERE AND MEETINGS WITH HONG KONG PEOPLE HAS BEEN PROPOSED. WE HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THAT THE VISIT MUST NOT BE SEEN AS SPONSORED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND THAT WE DO NOT WISH TO BE INVOLVED IN THE PLANS. WE SHALL HOWEVER TRY TO ENSURE FROM BEHIND THE SCENES THAT THE VISITORS DO SEE THE RIGHT THINGS AND MEET THE RIGHT PEOPLE. IF ASKED BY THE VISITORS, WE WOULD, OF COURSE, ARRANGE OFFICIAL CONTACTS OR VISITS IN THE NORMAL WAY.
3. OUR ASSESSMENT IS THAT THE ORGANISERS EXPECTATIONS ARE UNREALISTIC. HOWEVER, THE VISIT MAY SERVE SOME LIMITED PURPOSE BY IMPROVING THE EDUCATION OF SOME CHINESE OFFICIALS AND SHOULD
DO NO HARM.
4. WE HAVE NOT HEARD OF THE CHINESE REACTION TO THIS INVITATION THOUGH IT IS POSSIBLE THAT A FULL LIST OF THE DELEGATION WILL BE RECEIVED BY THE ORGANISERS ON 20 MAY AND IT IS SAID TO BE HEADED BY A MINISTER. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE HEARD OF THESE PLANS AND WHO, IF ANYONE, IS COMING. (IN THIS CONTEXT IT WAS RUMOURED THAT MADAM CHEN MUHUA HERSELF AND FOUR VICE MINISTERS WOULD LEAD THE DELEGATION, BUT WE THINK THIS IMPROBABLE). YOUDE
FUTURE OF HONG KÒNG
COPIES TO
ED/HIGD
HD/FED
ED/PLANNING STAFF HD/PUSD PS
PS/ME HURD
PS/LORD BELSTEAD PS/FUS
STR J BULLARD
MR GIFFARD
MR DONALD
SIR I SINCLAIR LEGAL ADVISER MR BURROWS LEGAL ADVISERS
MR ROBERTS
NEWS D
MR MARTIN
MR FLOWER
ASSESSMENTS STAFF
CABINET OFFICE
PUSD
MR COLES NO 10 DOWNING ST.
SIR APARSONS
NO 10 DOWNING STREGT
CONFIDENMAL
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