SECRET
GRS 150
SECRET
FROM PEKING 07080OZ MAR 83
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 215 OF 7/3/83
Think 04015
MAR 1983
M
REPEATED FOR INFO TO HONG KONG WASHINGTON (FOR GOMERSALL)
65
GOMERSALL'S TELELETTER OF 3 MARCH TO MORIS, HKGD:
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
1. SUBJECT TO ANY VIEWS SIR P CRADOCK, WHO IS NOW IN LONDON, MAY HAVE, OUR FEELING IS THAT THERE WOULD BE MERIT IN ACCEPTING INVITATIONS TO SPEAK ON HONG KONG SELECTIVELY. IN PARTICULAR WE SEE ADVANTAGE IN GOMERSALL AGREEING TO SPEAK BEFORE SUCH A GATHERING AS THIS, SINCE WE SHOULD LIKE US CONGRESSMEN AND BUSINESSMEN TO SPEAK HELPFULLY TO THE CHINESE WHEN THEY GET THE
OPPORTUNITY.
2. THAT SAID, SUCH SPEECHES WOULD REQUIRE VERY CAREFUL PREPARATION AND OUGHT WE THINK TO BE BASED ON A PREVIOUSLY AGREED TEXT.
THE LINE PROPOSED IN TUR SEEMS TO BE ABOUT RIGHT. AS FAR AS THE TREATIES ARE CONCERNED, IT IS RIGHT THAT THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND SHOULD BE EXPLAINED. HOWEVER, WE SHOULD BE INCLINED NOT TO LAY TOO MUCH EMPHASIS ON THE HISTORIAL ASPECT OF THE MATTER, BUT RATHER TO STRESS THE PRESENT REALITIES AND THE NEED FOR RATISFACTORY ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE FUTURE.
GALSWORTHY
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
LIMINED
HD/HKGD
HD/FED
HD/PLANNING STAFF
HD/PUSD PS
PS/MR HURD
PS/LORD BELSTEAD
PS/PUS
SIR J BULLARD
MR GIFFARD
MR DONALD
COPIES TO
SIR I SINCLAIR LEGAL ADVISER
MR ROBERTS
MR COLES
MR MARTIN
NEWS D
NO 10 DOWNING STREET
ASSESSMENTS STAFF CABINET OFFICE
SECRET
66
See 13
79