الله
PS/Mr Whitney
FUTURE OF HONG KONG:
SECRETS.
From:
MEK0405
·Date:
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
2 2 AUG 1983
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#EGATH Yout
MR HAYDEN'S VISIT TO (CHINA
A E Donald
18 August 1983
Mr Clift, HKD
Mr Chick, SPD
Mr Giffard
Mr Wright
250
Mr. Morris
1. Thank you for your minute of 17 August. The Prime Minister gave very strict instructions that only a very small group of officials should be authorised to see the papers dealing with the negotiations on Hong Kong's future. With the exception of the problems we have of briefing Mr Hayden, I am not sure that it is essential that SPD should see all the papers and telegrams on these negotiations.
2. Nevertheless, Hong Kong Department will be writing briefs on the negotiations before Mr Whitney's visit to Canberra. They will ensure that Mr Chick has this briefing and is fully in the picture on what he needs to know.
3.
ER
Idropulon
Inday 19/8.
4. We have used Sir John Mason as the channel for getting private briefing to Mr Hayden and I have backed it up with briefings in London with either the Australian High Commissioner or his Deputy. A problem is that Mr Hayden has insisted that what he has told us, eg about his discussions with the Chinese Foreign Minister, must not be reported to Australian Missions overseas and not even to his own Department of Foreign Affairs. There is thus a degree of resentment at the normal official working level among Australian diplomats.
5. We owe Sir John Mason further instructions about the last round of talks in Peking and Mr Chick will certainly see a copy of these.
6.
THIS IS A COPY
THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN RETAINED IN THE DEPARTMENT UNDER
SECTION 3 (4) OF THE
PUBLIC RECORDS ACT 1958.
Three further points are worth making:-
(a) The Australians have over the past year committed two very serious breaches of security in respect of secret information.
(b) Mr Hayden himself has made unhelpful remarks in Hong Kong which have caused irritation and nervousness there.
(c) Mr Hayden mistakenly thinks that we are hiding information from him although he has been given all the essential points. The Chinese on the other hand are conducting such a well co-ordinated campaign of propaganda and half truths, not only
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