RESTRICTED
4. THE NEW EVENING POST (COMMUNIST) IN ITS EDITORIAL ON 22
NOVEMBER SAID THAT TWO BRITISH CABINET MINISTERS, MR PETER WALKER AND LORD COCKFIELD, HAVE VISITED CHINA WITHIN A MONTH. THIS
DEMONSTRATED A WIDE SCOPE FOR SINO/BRITISH CO-OPERATION. HOWEVER,
CHINA AS A SOVEREIGN STATE HAD THE RESPONSIBILITY TO DRAW UP A
POLICY FOR THE PRESERVATION OF HONG KONG'S STABILITY AND PROSPERITY.
BRITAIN COULD MAKE A POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION. SOME PEOPLE WERE
WORRIED THAT THEY WOULD LOOSE THEIR PRIVILEGES AND SOUGHT TO
FIGHT FOR THE RETENTION OF SOVEREIGNTY AND ADMINISTRATION WHICH
DO NOT BELONG TO BRITAIN: SUCH MOVES MADE NO SENSE AND WOULD
LEAD NOWEHRE.
5. PARA 2 OF MY TELNO 1786 OMITTED TO MENTION THAT THE EXPRESS
(-INDEPENDENT) ALSO QUOTED THE SAME SOURCES AS HAVING CONFIRMED ''
THAT THE PRIME MINISTER HAD SENT A LETTER TO THE CHINESE LEADERS
VHA SHIR P. CRADOCK. THE SOURCES CONSIDERED THAT, ALTHOUTH THE
LETTER WAS INDICATIVE OF A SOFTENING OF THE BRITISH ATTITUDE,
BRITA-IN WOULD NOT BACK DOWN EASILY.
YOUDE
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
LIMITED
ED/KO
ED/FED
ED/PUSD
COPIES TO: (VIA DISTR. ROOM)
SIR PHILIP MOORE BUCKINGHAM PALACE PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL PS/HOME SECRETARY
PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER
PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL
PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND
ED/PLANNING STAFF
D/HD/PUSD (MR FLOWER)
RESEARCH DEPT(MR WALKER)
LEGAL ADVISER (SIR IAN SINCLAIR)
PS
PS/LADY YOUNG-
PSAR LUCE
PS/PUS
SIR J BULLARD
MR GIFFARD
MR DONALD
MR WRIGHT
RESTRICTED
INDUSTRY
COPIES TO:
(VIA ADR)
NEWS DEPT
MR ROBERTS
MR BURROWS LEGAL ADVISERS MR COLES NO 10 DOWNING ST SIR A PARSONS
MR MARTIN
ASSESSMENT STAFF
CABINET OFFICE
HR GOODALL CABINET OFFICE HR BRENNAN
PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL