Hick 01113--
RECEIVEL IN REGISTRY
10 JUL 1984
DUSK OFE
INDEX
A
la
SECRET
Cift, Hong Kong Dept
Анет
removed
Mr. Hoare to
T417
CC PS
Же
секс ра
JAK
Sir Percy Cradock Sir J Freeland
FROM: Paul Fifoot
iot
220
DATE: 9 July 1984
(218
FUTURE OF HONG KONG:
1.
CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
214
Sir J Freeland has just handed me a copy of your
minute of 9 July to Sir Percy Cradock. I notice the
annex includes the passage "either to rule the territory
direct from London or to invite the electoral college
to choose another candidate for formal appointment in London". In my minute of 5 July I expressed my- strong misgivings about this passage and of the need to ensure, in the event contemplated, that there was
a local official who had the authority to act on HMG's
behalf in the territory. Whether he would be a British
commissioner or a governor's deputy or acting governor
is irrelevant, but unless there is someone who can
immediately be vested with the authority of administering the colony, the prospects of HMG being able to exercise
a function which they would reserve to themselves
would be considerably diminished.
SECRET
Pond Fifor
Paul Fifoot
Deputy Legal Adviser