THIS IS A COPY THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN 4 CLOSED FOR
YEARS UNDER FOI
EXEMPTION No.....40+ 3&4 41, 27(1)
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9064
ON THE CONTRARY, WE THINK IT COULD PROVOKE SPECULATION AND UNEASE.
WE REALISE THAT THE CHINESE WOULD DISLIKE A REFUSAL OF THE INVITATION BUT WE AGREE WITH HM AMBASSADOR THAT THE RISKS OF ACCEPTANCE WOULD BE GREATER. MOREOVER, WE CANNOT BE SURE HOW THINGS WILL GO IN THE PÉKING TALKS AND IT IS THUS NOT PRACTICABLE
TO DECIDE NOW ON THE DESIRABILITY OF GESTURE TO THE CHINESE.
4.
WE TAKE THE AMBASSADOR'S POINT THAT THE POSSIBILITY OF A PRIVATE VISIT SHOULD BE KEPT OPEN. HOWEVER, WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS ON WHETHER
SHOULD BE ACTIVELY
ENCOURAGED TO SEEK SUCH AN INVITATION AT THIS STAGE. WOULD HE BE THE BEST PERSON TO GET OVER CONVINCINGLY POINTS WHICH WOULD AD- VANCE HONG KONG'S INTERESTS?
5.
OF
WE ALSO TAKE THE AMBASSADOR'S SUGGESTION ABOUT THE FORM REFUSAL OF THE INVITATION, BUT IT COULD CARRY IMPLICATIONS FOR THE FUTURE WHICH WE HAVE NOT CONSIDERED, AND ARE NOT READY TO PUT OVER. WE SUGGEST IT MIGHT BE BETTER IF WE WERE SIMPLY TO SAY THAT IT WOULD NOT SUIT HIS CONVENIENCE TO ATTEND
PYM
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
· TERLEND
HD/HEGD HD/TED
HD/PLANNING STAFF HD/PUSD
PS
PS/MR HURD
PS/LORD BELSTEAD PS/FUS
SIR J BULLARD
MR GIFFARD
MR DONALD
COFTES 10 SIR I SINCLAIR
MR ROBERTS
LEGAL ADVISER
NEWS D
MR COLES
NO 10 DOWNING STREET
MR MARIE,
JENUS STATI.
TOE
2
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