CONFIDENTIAL

I Pray

ник 040/25 орасиг

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

2 3 OCT 1984

Сонин

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

REGISTRY

Action Taktn

10

55

Search & Slate

feared

A

B C

Ohiria holls as far a

His "magine way of life"!

низ

Private Secretary

As

FROM:

A C GALSWORTHY, HKD

DATE:

18 OCTOBER 1984

CC:

PS/Mr Luce

Mr Gallwyork AKDov.cco

you

will see, the search of state

is not overly foncerned!

Sir P Cradock on return

Mr Boyd

?

/kelts 22/10.

HONG KONG AGREEMENT: PUBLIC OPINION SURVEY

1. I think the Secretary of State would wish to see the attached self-explanatory exchange of telegrams (Hong Kong telno 3237, FCO telno 2087 and Hong Kong telno 3254). They relate to a public survey on Hong Kong reactions to the draft agreement, to which the Unofficial Members of EXCO and LEGCO (UMELCO) have made a contribution drawn from public funds.

2. This was a UMELCO initiative of which the Hong Kong Government have only just become aware. It has been reported in the Hong Kong press but has not aroused any comment. The results of the survey will be communicated to the Assessment Office and may well subsequently be published in the immediate run up to the parliamentary debate.

3. For the reasons set out in my telegram I regard this as a disturbing development but it is one over which we have virtually no control. The explanation provided by the Governor in Kong Kong telno 3254 does not entirely reassure me. The fact that the survey in que stion is the only large scale, professional one to have been conducted so far will give its results a certain weight. This could possibly be of advantage to us if the results demonstrate clear acceptance of the agreement, but conversely it could give us difficulties if the state of opinion reported by the survey was

CONFIDENTIAL

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