GR 350
SECRET
SECRET
FM HONG KONG 0108102 FEB 84
TELEGRAM NUMBER 2731 OF
TO ROUTINE FCO
i
INFO PEKING
OF 1 FEBRUARY
THIS IS A COPY
THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN RETAINED
IN THE DEPARTMENT UNDER
SECTION 3 (4) OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT 1958
i
PERSONAL FOR CLIFT, HKD FROM POLITICAL ADVISER
FUTURE OF HONG KONG: RECORDS
1. AFTER EIGHT ROUNDS OF TALKS WE ARE BEGINNING TO FIND IT
DIFFICULT TO KEEP TRACK OF WHO SAID WHAT AND WHEN. THE WORK OF PREPARING SPEAKING NOTES AND OTHER MATERIAL IN CONNECTION WITH THE
TACKS SOMETIMES TAKES LONGER THAN NECESSARY BECAUSE OF THE
NEED TO LOOK UP THE RECORDS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE NOT MISSED SOMETHING IMPORTANT SAID BY ONE OR OTHER OF THE TWO SIDES:
WE ARE RELYING MAINLY ON MEMORY.
2. WHAT IS NEEDED IS A LOOSELEAF CONVORDANCE, UPDATED AFTER EACH ROUND OF THE TALKS OR INFORMAL CONTACT, WHICH WOULD BRIEFLY SUMMARISE POINTS MADE UNDER DIFFERENT SUB HEADINGS, WITH
REFERENCES TO THE ROUND(S) (FIRST OR SECOND DAY) OR INFORMAL
MEETNGS WHEN THE PARTICULAR ISSUE WAS DISCUSED. THE CHOICE OF
SUB HEADINGS IS IMPORTANT: THEY WOULD NEED TO BE SUFFICENTLY, BUT NOT EXCESSIVELY DETAILED. FOR EXAMPLE, HEADINGS UNDER
THE LEGAL SYSTEM WOULD NEED TO INCLUDE QUOTE FINAL COURT OF APPEAL
UNQUOTE, QUOTE JUDGES: METHOD OF APPOINTMENT UNQUOTE, QUOTE JUDGES:
INDEPENDENCE OF UNQUOTE ETC.
•
3. I WONDER IF IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO ASK RESEARCH DEPARTMENT TO
GO THROUGH THE RECORDS OF ALL THE MEETINGS SO FAR, AND THE RECORDS/TELEGRAPH REPORTS OF INFORMAL MEETINGS IN ORDER TO
PRODUCE SUCH A CONCORANCE. I REALISE THAT THIS IS SOMETHING
OF A CHORE, BUT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE CONCERNED WITH THE FUTURE
HERE IS, AS YOU KNOW, VERY SMALL AND WE SIMPLY DO NOT HAVE THE TIME TO UNDERTAKE THE TASK OURSELVES.
4. WHAT I HAVE IN MIND IS OF COURSE A SEPARATE EXERCISE FROM THE
WORK ON CHINESE (NEXT WORD UNDERLINED) PUBLIC STATEMENTS,
ALREADY HAVE IN HAND.
WHICH RESEARCH DEPARTMENT
YOUDE
LIMITED
HKD
FED RES D MR DONALD
SECRET
COPIES
то
SIR P CRADOCK
R