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Sir P Cradock Sir W Harding Dr Wilson Mr Orr, FED Mr Goulden, News
CEPTABILITY
FUTURE OF HONG KONG AND TEST OF ACCEPTABILITY
1.
I attach Hong Kong telnos 1238 and 1239 giving EXCO's and the Governor's reaction to the line in our telno 487 to Peking.
2.
So far as EXCO is concerned the only point is the implicaton in Sir S Y Chung's remark that EXCO Unofficials are cutting loose from HMG. This will clearly be a strong theme at the meetings with the UMELCO delegation.
3.
The Governor recommends holding back on the active encouragement of opinions until more has been done to respond to criticism which has emerged since the Secretary of State's visit. He proposes the inclusion of specific points in the Secretary of State's speech in the debate on 16 May.
4.
Of these points there are difficulties about: (b) indicating that we tried for British administration. The Chinese would object strongly; and (d) encouragement for BDTCS. There are obvious risks of a Chinese reaction but even more problems from the UK policy angle.
5.
The Governor recommends that we do not pay too much attention to Chinese susceptibilities. It is true that the Chinese have not adhered to confidentiality themselves. But we must avoid provoking them to the extent that the prospects for negotiation are seriously damaged.
6.
I think that we can find a form of words to go at least part of the way on (b). This could be on the following lines. After a reference to the fact that it would not be realistic to envisage continuing British administration, the Secretary of State might say:
"In taking this view we have been aware of the wish of
the Hong Kong people for the maximum continuity in every respect. I can assure the House that we have impressed this on the Chinese Government very strongly and have explained the advantages of the present system."
TKK 140/1
(VED I KSEN
: 5 MAY 1984
17.
Action Taken
уривок