•
GRS 200
SECRET
FM OTTAWA 12210OZSEPT 84
TO PRIORITY FCO
SECRET
TELEGRAM NUMBER 499 OF 12 SEPTEMBER
INFO ROUTINE TO HONG KONG AND PEKING
-109
113
HKK Grid 6.
TOPP
RECEN
1985
13SEP 198
DESK OFFICEM
INDEX
*
PA
RY
aker
Top 12119.
YOUR TELNOS 756 AND 785 TO CANBERRA: FUTURE OF HONG KONG: BRIEFING
OUR ALLIES
1. ALTHOUGH THE GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING THE NEW SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, WILL NOT TAKE OFFICE UNTIL 17 SEPTEMBER
THE AUGURIES FOR OBTAINING A POSITIVE STATEMENT WELCOMING THE
AGREEMENT ARE GOOD.
2. OFFICIALS HAVE CONSISTENTLY TAKEN A HELPFUL LINE (CF BAKER'S TELELETTER TO CLIFT OF 24 JULY), AND HAVE BEEN WATCHING PROGRESS
SYMPATHETICALLY. IN THE LIGHT OF FIRST TUR WE HAVE THANKED THEM
AGAIN FOR THEIR HELPFUL LINE, STRESSED THAT WE WILL WANT TO ENSURE A GOOD RECEPTION FOR THE AGREEMENT, AND OUR HOPE IN THAT CONNECTION
THAT THEY WOULD BE BRIEFING THE NEW MINISTER. THEY ASSURED US THAT
A BRIEF IS ALREADY WAITING FOR HIM, TOGETHER WITH A BID TO
BRIEF HIM IN MORE DETAIL EARLY ON.
3. IN THE LIGHT OF PARA 8 OF SECOND TUR WE ARE NOW SPELLING OUT
MORE CLEARLY OUR HOPE THAT, WHEN THE TIME COMES, THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT WILL SPEAK PUBLICLY IN POSITIVE TERMS ABOUT THE AGREEMENT
AND THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG. EXACTLY WHAT THE CANADIANS FEEL ABLE
TO SAY WILL DEPEND TO SOME EXTENT ON THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT IN
ITS FINAL FORM.
4. WE ARE MAKING PLANS TO INFLUENCE PRESS, BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL
CIRCLES. THEIR VIEWS ARE LIKELY TO BE AFFECTED TO SOME EXTENT
BY THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT'S VIEWS, BUT EVEN MORE BY REACTIONS AND
RECEPTION IN HONG KONG ITSELF: AND ESPECIALLY WHAT THEY READ
IN THE SOUTH CHINA POST. DAY
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
HD/PLANNING STAFF
HD/PUSD
DEP HD/PUSD
RESEARCH D (MR WALKER)
LEGAL ADVISERS (SIR J FREELAND)
PS
PS/LADY YOUNG
PS/MR LUCE
PS/PUS
SIR W HARDING
SIR C TICKELL
MR GOODALL
MR DEREK THOMAS MR. BOYD
SECRET
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 DEPT
MR BICKFORD LEGAL ADVISERS
MR FIFOOT LEGAL ADVISERS
MR POWELL NO 10 DOWNING ST.
MR INGHAM NO 10 DOWNING ST..
MR MARTIN ASSESSMENTS STAFF CABINET O MR CARTLEDGE CABINET OFFICE
MR COLVIN
CABINET OFFICE
PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE
PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL
SIR P CRADOCK
ROOM K195
SIR P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING ST.