CONFIDENTIAL
10656
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DD 180100Z HONG KONG
GRS 315
CONFIDENTIAL
DESKBY 180100Z
FM FCO 1717002 OCTOBER 84
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 2087 OF 17 OCTOBER
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
FROM GALSWORTHY FOR GOVERNOR
3
YOUR TELNO 3237: HONG KONG AGREEMENT: PUBLIC OPINION SURVEY:
UMELCO
1. WE ARE ALARMED AT THE DEVELOPMENT REPORTED IN TUR, ALTHOUGH
WE REALISE THAT YOU HAD NO CONTROL OVER IT. WE FEAR THAT
IRRESPECTIVE OF THE FACT THAT UMELCO ACTED ON THEIR OWN
INITIATIVE AND THAT THEIR VOTE IS NOT WITHIN THE CONTROL OF THE
ADMINISTRATION, THE FACT THAT THEY ARE AMONG THE SPONSORS OF THIS
SURVEY WILL GIVE IT AN OFFICIAL FLAVOUR WHICH IT WOULD NOT
OTHERWISE ACQUIRE. WE SHALL HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE METHODS
WHICH THE SURVEY ORGANISERS USE, OR OF THE QUESTION OR QUESTIONS WHICH THEY PUT, AND THE RELIABILITY OR INDEED
RELEVANCE OF THE OUTCOME IS ANYONE'S GUESS. IT SEEMS LIKELY
THAT IF THE SURVEY REPORT IS PUBLISHED IT WILL HAPPEN IN THE
RUN-UP TO THE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE. SHOULD THE SURVEY REPORT
CONTAIN FINDINGS AT VARIANCE WITH THE OVERALL CONCLUSION OF THE
ASSESSMENT OFFICE, THIS COULD BE VERY TROUBLESOME, AND IF THE REPORT IS ASSOCIATED WITH UMELCO, DETRACT FROM THE SUPPORT WHICH UNOFFICIALS HAVE SO FAR GIVEN TO THE AGREEMENT.
2. WE REALISE THAT THERE IS LITTLE THAT CAN NOW BE DONE ABOUT
THIS. WE INTEND TO DRAW MINISTER'S ATTENTION TO THIS
DEVELOPMENT: IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO KNOW BY 18090OZ IF ANY
OTHER SURVEYS HAVE BEEN COMMISSIONED BY INDEPENDENT
ORGANISATIONS, EG PRESS OR TV.
3. ON THE PUBLIC LINE, WE SHOULD MUCH PREFER YOU NOT TO USE THE LAST PART OF YOUR LINE VIS ''ON SUCH FUNDAMENTALLY
IMPORTANT MATTERS
...
ASCERTAIN THE STATE OF PUBLIC OPINION''
WE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WILL NOT WISH TO GIVE THE IMPRESSION THAT
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CONFIDENTIAL