GPS 200
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 380943Z JUL 33
CONFIDENTIAL
MKK040/2
RECEIVED IN REG/STAY NO. 51
12 JUL 1983
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
DESK OFF!"
TELEGRAM NUMBER 971 OF 8 JULY 1983)
INDEX
PA
INFO PRIORITY PEKING
115
COPY
123
PEKING TELNO 644: FUTURE OF HONG KONG: PRESS ARTICLE ABOUT SECOND
PHASE TALKS
1. AS FAR AS I KNOW, THE LEAK ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF TALKS QUOTE AT SUB COMMITTEE LEVEL UNQUOTE DID NOT COME FROM ANY OFFICIAL (OR UNOFFICIAL) HONG KONG SOURCES.
2. ON A MORE GENERAL POINT, IT IS CLEARLY ESSENTIAL TO MAINTAIN CONFIDENTIALITY ABOUT THE (NEXT WORD UNDERLINED) CONTENT OF THE TALKS IN PEKING. BUT IN MY VIEW IT IS NEITHER PRACTICABLE NOR DESIRABLE TO KEEP TOTAL SILENCE ON ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS SUCH AS THE DATES FOR MEETINGS, THEIR DURATION OR LIKELY DURATION, HONG KONG PARTICIPATION IN THEM AND (WHEN THE TIME COMES) THE FACT THAT SUB COMMITTEES HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED. THERE IS INTENSE INTEREST IN EVERY ASPECT OF THE NEGOTIATIONS HERE AND WE WOULD SIMPLY BE LAYING UP TROUBLE FOR OURSELVES IF WE DID NOTHING AT ALL TO SATISFY IT. WE WOULD NOT WISH OR NEED TO ANNOUNCE ALL OF SIR P. CARDOCK'S MEETINGS WITH THE CHINESE. BUT THE MEDIA WILL IN ANY CASE FIND OUT WHO IS GOING TO PEKING FROM HONG KONG AND WHEN. WE CAN GAIN SOME CREDIT (AND AT THE SAME TIME HELP KEEP SPEC- ULATION IN CHECK) BY PROVIDING INFORMATION OF THIS KIND OURSELVES
FROM TIME TO TIME.
See(131
YOUDE
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
LIMITED
COPIES TO:
HD/HKD
HD/FED
MR BURROWS
HD/PLANNING STAFF
MR MARTIN
HD/PUSD
PS
MR FLOWER
PS/LADY YOUNG
MR COLES
PS/MR LUCE
PS/PUS
SIR J BULLARD
MR GIFFARD
MR DONALD
MR WRIGHT
SIR I SINCLAIR LEGAL ADVISER
LEGAL ADVISERS
ASSESSMENTS STAFF CABINET OFFICE
PUSD
NO 10 DOWNING ST
SIR A PARSONS
MR WALKER,
11
RESEARCH DEPT (GOGGS)
MR ROBERTS NEWS D
CONFIDENTIAL