RJT McLaren Esq CMG Political Adviser HONG KONG
CONFIDENTIAL
BE Manila (269) Майс
28 September
Mrs Pigtail 283
Not a v.
AV.
سعيد
hepfulpiece!
1.
I enclose a commentator's article on Hong Kong from Bulletin Today (the principal Philippine newspaper) of 24 May.
2. The Filipinos are generally studiously non-committal on political aspects of the Hong Kong question. (There is of course full coverage of economic problems.) Benedicto's line may therefore reflect a slight change of official attitude. hen I called on Deputy Minister Pacifico Castro on 23 September with two visiting Members of Tarliament I enquired about relations with China, hoping to draw comment on Hong Kong. Castro was much more guarded than on earlier occasions when he has expressed some concern about conse- quences of a surrender of Hong Kong sovereignty on the situation of the Philippines' immediate neighbour, Taiwan. He said only that Philippines relations with China were excellent. No doubt my Chinese colleague has been lobbying appropriately.
MKK040/2
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
26 OCT 1983
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cc:
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MH Morgan
CONFIDENTIAL
PA
怔
BTC CM131/4
10