TT PEKING
GRS 492
SECRET
TELELETTER
SECRET
HKKO4Ols
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
- 7 NOV 1983
499
29542 1
P
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
REGISTRY
Action Taken
see (601).
FROM A E DONALD, FCO
FILE REFERENCE HKK 040/5 DATED 3 NOOEMBER 1983
FOLLOWING FOR SIR P CRADOCK GCMG, HM AMBASSADOR, PEKING
COPIED TO D M D THOMAS ESQ CMG, WASHINGTON, R J T MCLAREN ESQ
CMG, POLITICAL ADVISER, HONG KONG
BRIEFINGS ON HONG KONG
4911)1.
I WAS GRATEFUL FOR YOUR TELELETTER OF 20 OCTOBER AND ALSO FOR 413DEREK THOMAS'S OF 28 OCTOBER ABOUT MR LUCE'S DISCUSSIONS WITH
44WOLFOWITZ. IN HIS TELELETTER OF 31 OCTOBER ROBIN MCLAREN HAS
ALSO ADDRESSED THE GENERAL PROBLEM OF BRIEFING THE AMERICANS AND
OTHERS.
2.
WE ARE TELEGRAPHING A FULL SUMMARY OF MR LUCE'S DISCUSSION
IN WASHINGTON. THERE IS OF COURSE NO OBJECTION TO YOUR USING
THAT AS THE BASIS FOR ANY CONVERSATION WITH YOUR AMERICAN
COLLEAGUE (OR SO FAR AA HONG KONG ARE CONCERNED, WITH THE
AMERICAN CONSUL GENERAL). IN ADDITION YOU MAY DRAW ON OUR TELNO
481365 TO CANBERRA IN DISCUSSION WITH AMERICAN, AUSTRALIAN, CANADIAN
OR NEW ZEALAND COLLEAGUES.
3.
I SHOULD MAKE CLEAR THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE
ASSUMMPTION THAT BOTH YOU AND HONG KONG WOULD FEEL FREE TO DRAW
ON ANY REPORT OF OUR BRIEFING OF THE CLOSER ALLIES, WHETHER THIS
WERE DONE IN LONDON OR IN ANOTHER CAPITAL, FOR THE PURPOSE OF
TALKING TO YOUR LOCAL COLLEAGUES. IN VIEW OF THE DIFFICULTY
DESCRIBED BY ROBIN MCLAREN IN PARA 3 OF HIS TELELETTER OF 31
OCTOBER, I SHOULD CONFIRM THAT YOU HAVE THAT AUTHORITY NOW AND
IN FUTURE CASES. WE SHALL OF COURSE ENSURE THAT YOU ARE SENT
SUCH REPORTS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
4.
ON THE QUESTION OF THE SORT OF HELP WHICH THE AMERICANS
(AND OTHERS) MIGHT BE ABLE TO GIVE US, I TOO SHOULD BE GRATEFUL
FOR ANY FURTHER THOUGHTS WHICH YOU MAY HAVE. OBVIOUSLY, THE
AMERICANS MUST HAVE AS GOOD AN IDEA AS WE CAN GIVE THEM OF THE
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