SECRET
19
?
OO PEKING
GRS 244
SECRET
FM FCO 151600Z MAR 84
TO IMMEDIATE PEKING
TELEGRAM NUMBER 227 OF 15 MARCH
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
FOLLOWING FOR AMBASSADOR AND GOVERNOR
6433 1
MKKо40/31
RECEIVED INSI¿GISTRY
DESK OFFICEA
INDEX
STRY
PA
Ammon Taken
Стев
OUR TELNO 655 TO HONG KONG: FUTURE OF HONG KONG: PARLIAMENTARY
STATEMENTS
1.
THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS DEBATE HAS NOW BEEN MOVED FORWARD TO
22 MARCH. WE HAVE BEEN ASKED TO SUBMIT TOMORROW THE FIRST DRAFT
OF A PASSAGE ON HONG KONG FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S STATEMENT. 20 MIFT CONTAINS A TEXT (WHICH THE SECRETARY OF STATE EARLIER
APPROVED IN OUTLINE).
2.
WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR ANY COMMENTS DESKBY 161000Z. WE
REALISE THAT THE GOVERNOR MAY WISH TO SHOW THE TEXT TO EXCO ON
HIS RETURN TO HONG KONG. WE HOPE THAT HE WILL FEEL ABLE TO
ARGUE AGAINST ANY DISPOSITION ON THE PART OF EXCO TO CLAIM THAT
A STATEMENT ON THESE LINES WOULD PRE-EMPT THE EXERCISE OF OPEN
QUOTES LIFTING THE VEIL CLOSE QUOTES TO BE INITIATED IN HONG KONG
DURING THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT.
3. IN OUR VIEW THIS WOULD NOT BE THE CASE. THE STATEMENT GOES
ONLY A VERY LITTLE WAY BEYOND WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN SAID IN
PARLIAMENT AND ELSEWHERE. IN ANY CASE, GIVEN THAT AN IMPORTANT
FOREIGN AFFAIRS DEBATE IS TAKING PLACE, WE MUST AVOID LATER
CRITICISM IN PARLIAMENT THAT NO INKLING WAS GIVEN TO THEM
OF THE DIRECTION IN WHICH MATTERS ARE MOVING.
IT IS RELEVANT IN THIS CONNECTION THAT THE SUBSEQUENT STATEMENT
IN HONG KONG WOULD BE MADE WHILE PARLIAMENT IS IN RECESS,
AND THAT PARLIAMENTARY OPINION COULD THEN ALREADY BE A LITTLE
SENSITIVE ON THIS SCORE.
see ༢༧༢ 20
HOWE
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
PLANNING STAFF
ED/PUSD
D/ED/PUSD
PES.B. (MR FALKER)
LEGAL ADVISER (SIR IAN SINCLAIR FS
PS/LADY YOUNG
PSA LUCE
PS/PUS
SIR J BULLARD
SIR W HARDING
YR WILSON
AR WRIGHT SIF C TICKETT,
COPTES TO:
BUCKINGHAM PALACE
PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCILL
PS/HOME SECRETARY
PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXOSIDQUER
PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL
PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE & INDUSTRY
COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)
MR ROBERTS KEYS D'
HR BURROWS LEGAL ADVS
MR COLES NO 10 DOWNING ST
MR MÄRTION ASSESSMENT STAFF CABINET OFFICE
MR GOODALL
CABINET OFFICE
MR BRENNAN CABINET OFFICE
PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE D PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL
SIR ? CRADOCK BY K195
P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING STREET
SEORET