GR 250
165)
TOP COPY
SECRET
SECRET
FM HONG KONG 080905Z MAR $4
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 624 OF 8 MARCH
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
150)
YOUR TELNO 181: FUTURE OF HONG KONG: LEGCO DEBATE.
HKK040||
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY & MAR 1984
DESK OFFICER
UKURAN M
REGISTRY
Lakon Taken
1. THE PRESENT PLAN IS THAT THE CHIEF SECRETARY SHOULD BE THE ONLY OFFICIAL MEMBER TO SPEAK IN THE DEBATE. MIFT CONTAINS THE DRAFT ON WHICH WE ARE PRESENTLY WORKING FOR THE SPEECH HE WILL NEED TO MAKE IN WINDING UP. THE AMBASSADOR MAY FIND IT USEFUL TO KNOW THE KIND OF LINE WE HAVE IN MINE BEFORE HIS INFORMAL
DINNER WITH ZHOU NAN TOMORROW.
2. AS YOU WILL SEE THE DRAFT IS LARGELY DRAWN FROM ESTABLISHED TEXTS AND SEEKS TO EXPLAIN WHY THE TABLING OF THE MOTION IS UNDERSTANDABLE NOW. IT IS SCRUPULOUS IN NOT BREAKING CONFIDENTIALITY. WE HAVE SOUGHT TO STRIKE A POSITIVE AND FORWARD LOOKING NOTE WITHOUT GIVING THE CHINESE ANY REASONABLE CAUSE FOR COMPLAINT.
3. THE DRAFT WILL NEED SOME AMENDMENT TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF POINTS
MADE BY THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS. WE EXPECT TO SEE ADVANCE COPIES
OF MOST OF THEIR SPEECHES BY THE WEEKEND. I WILL TELEGRAPH A
REVISED DRAFT OF THE CHIEF SECRETARY'S SPEECH EARLY NEXT WEEK.
IN THE MEANTIME, IF YOU OR THE AMBASSADOR HAVE ANY COMMENTS IT
WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE THEM DESKBY 10003OZ.
166,
4. SEE MIFT.
YOUDE
FUTURE OF HONG KONG LIMITED
ED/PLANNING STAFF.
ED/PUSD
D/ED/PUSD
RES.B. (MR WALKER)
LEGAL ADVISER (SIR IAN SINCLAIR
PS
PS/LADY YOUNG
COPIES TO:
BUCKINGHAM PALACE
PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL PS/HOME SECRETARY
PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER
PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL
PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE & INDUSTRY
COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)
MR ROBERTS
NEWS D
PS/MR LUCE
PS/PUS
SIR J BULLARD
SIR W HARDING
MR WILSON
KR FRIGENT
STR C TICKELL
SECRET
HR BURROWS LEGAL ADVS
MR COLES NO 10 DOWNING ST
MR MARTIN ASSESSMENT STAFF CABINET OFFICE
MR GOODALL CABINET OFFICE
MR. BRENNAN CABINET OFFICE
PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE D PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL
SIR P CRADOCK RE K195
SIR P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING STREET