DD 270100Z HONG KONG
GRS 700
CONFIDENTIAL
DESKBY 2701002
FM FCO 261810Z NOV 84
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
CONFIDENTIAL
TELEGRAM NUMBER 2349 OF 26 NOVEMBER
TOP COPY
260
2010 - 1
1
HKK 040/46
RECEIVED ON REGISTRY
2 8 NOV 1984
DESK OFFICER INDEA
PA
201
In
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
HONG KONG AGREEMENT: REPORTS OF ASSESSMENT OFFICE AND
MONITORING TEAM.
1. WE ARE PROPOSING TO GIVE SOME OFF-THE-RECORD BRIEFING TO DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENTS AND CORRESPONDENTS OF FOREIGN
NEWSPAPERS IN LONDON AT OFFICIAL LEVEL ON 29 NOVEMBER. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO KNOW WHAT YOU ARE PROPOSING TO DO IN HONG KONG.
WE ALSO NEED TO AGREE ON THE LINE TO BE TAKEN ON THE KEY
QUESTIONS WHICH WILL BE RAISED. WHAT SEEM TO US THE MOST LIKELY QUESTIONS, AND SUGGESTED ANSWERS, ARE SET OUT BELOW: (A) CONCLUSIONS OF THE REPORTS?
2.
(B)
WE
THESE ARE ADMIRABLY CLEAR AND COMPREHENSIVE REPORTS.
WELCOME THE CONCLUSION OF BOTH REPORTS THAT MOST OF THE
PEOPLE OF HONG KONG FIND THE DRAFT AGREEMENT ACCEPTABLE'. THIS PROVIDES THE BEST POSSIBLE BASIS ON WHICH THE
GOVERNMENT CAN COMMEND THE DRAFT AGREEMENT TO PARLIAMENT IN
THE FORTHCOMING PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES.
A FARCE, GIVEN THAT THE AGREEMENT CANNOT BE CHANGED? NO. WHEN PARLIAMENT DEBATES THE DRAFT AGREEMENT IT WILL
EXPECT TO HAVE A CLEAR VIEW OF HONG KONG OPINION. IT IS OF VALUE THAT THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE REPORT SHOULD SET OUT SUCH
A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF THE CONCERNS OF THE HONG KONG
PEOPLE. THIS WILL ASSIST DISCUSSION BETWEEN THE BRITISH AND
CHINESE GOVERNMENTS IN THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP ON THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGREEMENT.
(C) LOW LEVEL OF PUBLIC RESPONSE?
NOT AT ALL. PUBLIC RESPONSE WAS FAR HIGHER THAN IN ANY
PREVIOUS CONSULTATION EXERCISE.
MANY OF THE SUBMISSIONS
1.
CONFIDENTIAL