CONFIDENTIAL
819
OO HONG KONG
GRS 246
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO 201100Z NOV 84
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
HKK 040/46
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
22 NOV 1984
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
REGISTRY
PA
Action Taken
TELEGRAM NUMBER 2307 OF 21 NOVEMBER
222
YOUR TELNO 3515: HONG KONG AGREEMENT: ASSESSMENT OFFICE AND MONITORS' REPORTS
PUBLICATION OF
THIS
1. I AM MOST GRATEFUL FOR YOUR AGREEMENT TO FURNISH US WITH THE FINAL VERSION OF BOTH REPORTS ON MONDAY 26 NOVEMBER. WILL ENABLE US TO BRING FORWARD PUBLICATION OF THE WHITE PAPER.
WE WILL NOT HOWEVER BE ABLE TO PUBLISH AT 0900Z ON 29 NOVEMBER
BUT WE PROPOSE TO PUBLISH AT 1100Z ON THAT DAY. WE HOPE THAT THIS
WILL BE ACCEPTABLE TO YOU. IF YOU CONSIDER IT NECESSARY YOU MAY
PROVIDE EMBARGOED ADVANCE COPIES OF THE WHITE PAPER TO THE
PRESS.
2. THE TIMETABLE IS VERY TIGHT INDEED, AND COULD BE DISRUPTED BY
MATTERS OUT OF OUR CONTROL, SUCH AS FOG AT HEATHROW ON 26
NOVEMBER. FOR THIS REASON WE SHOULD PREFER TO DELAY ANNOUNCEMENT
OF THE EXACT DATE OF PUBLICATION UNTIL THE EXERCISE IS IN ITS
FINAL STAGES. WE THEREFORE PROPOSE, UNLESS YOU SEE OBJECTION, ΤΟ
ANNOUNCE PUBLICATION OF THE WHITE PAPER IN A REPLY TO AN INSPIRED
PQ ON 27 NOVEMBER, PUBLISHED IN HANSARD ON 28 NOVEMBER. ON THAT TIMING YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO ANNOUNCE PUBLICATION AT, ANY TIME
AFTER 1700Z ON 27 NOVEMBER. WE WILL IN THE SAME REPLY ANNOUNCE
THAT THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED BY ORGANISATIONS TO THE ASSESSMENT
OFFICE WILL BE LAID IN THE LIBRARIES OF BOTH HOUSES. IN THE
MEANTIME WE SHOULD TAKE THE LINE THAT THE REPORT WILL BE
PUBLISHED BEFORE THE DEBATE BUT THAT THE DATE FOR PUBLICATION HAS
NOT YET BEEN FIXED.
HOWE
HONG KONG AGREEMENT
1
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
HD/PLANNING STAFF
HD/PUSD
DEP HD/PUSD
RESEARCH DEPT (MR WALKER) PS
PS/MR LUCE
PS/PUS
SIR W HARDING
MR WILSON
SIR J FREELAND
COPIES TO:(VIA ADR)
MR ROBERTS, NEWS DEPT
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS MR BURROWS, LEGAL ADVISERS
MR MARTIN, ASST STAFF CABINET
OFFICE
MR CARTLEDGE, CABINET OFFICE MR COLVIN, CABINET OFFICE
SIR P CRADOCK, NO 10 DOWNING ST SIR P CRADOCK, ROOM K195
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