OO HONG KONG
GRS 351
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TOP COPY
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1047 1
Sta
29
(367)
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51
29 JUN 1983
FM FCO 271900Z JUNE 83
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 567 OF 27 JUNE
DESK OFFICER INDEX
PA
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM DONALD
FUTURE EGRET: YOUR TELNO 881
REGISTRY Action Taken
CHILD
1.
I HAD LUNCH WITH DEREK DAVIES AT HIS REQUEST ON 6 JUNE. APART FROM THAT I HAD A DRINK WITH HIM BEFORE HE LEFT LONDON ON
9 JUNE (ABOUT 30 MINUTES). SINCE HIS FAMILY WERE PRESENT AT THE
DRINKS, WE DID NOT DISCUSS SERIOUS ISSUES. INDEED, AS I SAID
GOODBYE, DAVIES COMPLAINED JOKINGLY (BUT WITH AN EDGE) TO HIS
BROTHER THAT HE HAD BEEN TRYING WHILE IN LONDON TO GET OUT OF ME
WHAT WAS GOING ON IN PEKING OVER THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG AND HAD
LEARNED NOTHING.
2. ON THE OTHER HAND, DAVIES HAD NATURALLY ASKED ABOUT HONG KONQ
DURING THE LUNCH ON 6 JUNE. THERE WAS NO MENTION WHATSOEVER OF
THE STORY REOORTED IN YOUR TELNO 851. INDEED THERE WAS NO
REFERENCE TO EXCO OF ANY KIND. YOU MAY THEREFORE WITH TOTAL
CONFIDENCE ASSURE UNOFFICIALS THAT THE SUBJECT OF EXCO NEVER
CROPPED UP IN ANY WORDS I HAD WITH DEREK DAVIES. BUT WHY SHOULD
YOU BE PRESSED BY UNOFFICIALS? DAVIES MUST HAVE SEEN SCORES OF
PEOPLE IN LONDON BESIDES ME.
3.
MY MAIN OBJECT IN ANSWERING DAVIES' QUESTIONS OVER LUNCH
WAS TO IMPRESS ON HIM AND THROUQH HIM HIS READERSHIP IN HONG KONQ
THAT THE FCO OFFICIALS AND NO 10 ARE WORKING VERY CLOSELY
TOGETHER ON THE OROBLEM OF THE FUTURE AND THE DRIFT OF MY TALK
WAS TO SUGGEST THE TALKS WERE PROGRESSING, ALBEIT SLOWLY, IN THE
RIGHT DIRECTION. BUT NO ONE WAS SELLING HONG KONQ DOWN THE RIVER.
DAVIES WAS SCEPTICAL THAT ANY PROGRESS HAD BEEN MADE SINCE THE
THATCHER VISIT LAST YEAR.
See (369)
4.
1
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FUTURE EGRET
THIS IS A COPY THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN
CLOSED FOR..
40 YEARS UNDER FOI EXEMPTION No. 270).