CONFIDENTIAL FUTURE EGRET
14643
1
2.
I STRONGLY COMMEND IT TO THIS HOUSE, AND TO THE PEOPLE OF
HONG KONG.'
WE HAD HITHERTO INTENDED THAT THE VISIT TO PEKING SHOULD NO
BE FORMALLY ANNOUNCED AT LEAST UNTIL THE WORK OF ASSESSING
OPINION IN HONG KONG WAS COMPLETE. MCLAREN'S PERSONAL LETTER OF
8 OCTOBER TO GALSWORTHY EXPRESSED MUCH THE SAME VIEW.
3.
THE TEXT OF THE DRAFT SPEECH DOES MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THE
VISIT TO PEKING FOR SIGNATURE IS CONDITIONAL ON PARLIAMENTARY
ACCEPTANCE OF THE AGREEMENT, AND BY IMPLICATION THEREFORE
CONDITIONAL ON THE OUTCOME OF THE ASSESSMENT OF OPINION IN HONG
KONG. NEVERTHELESS WE STILL SEE A DANGER THAT THE
ANNOUNCEMENT NOW OF THE PRIME MINISTER'S INTENTION TO GO TO
PEKING MIGHT BE SEEN IN HONG KONG AS PREUDGING THE OUTCOME OF
THE ASSESSMENT, AND REINFORCE THE VIEW THAT THE ASSESSMENT IS A
USELESS EXERCISE. WE SHOULD BE MOST GRATEFUL FOR THE GOVERNOR'S
VIEWS ON THIS.
4.
THIS TIMING FOR THE ANNOUNCEMENT IS CLEARLY ALSO DIFFICULT
FROM THE CHINESE POINT OF VIEW, SINCE WE HAVE NOT YET INFORMED THEM
DEFINITIVELY OF THE PRIME MINISTER'S FIRM DECISION TO GO TO PEKING.
GIVEN THAT THE PRIME MINISTER IS NOW ON HER WAY TO DELHI, THERE IS NO PROSPECT THAT WE COULD GET INSTRUCTIONS TO PEKING TO SPEAK TO THE
CHINESE BEFORE EARLY 6 NOVEMBER PEKING TIME. THIS WOULD BE
VERY SHORT NOTICE OF OUR INTENTION TO ANNOUNCE THE VISIT.
5. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR THE AMBASSADOR'S VIEW OF WHETHER
THIS WOULD BE LIKELY TO UPSET THE CHINESE.
6. GIVEN THE PRIME MINISTER'S ABSENCE THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO
DO BEFORE MONDAY, BUT WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR REPLIES DESKBY
05090OZ.
HOWE
FUTURE EGRET
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MR BOYD
COPIES TO:-
SIR P CRADOCK
MR BURROWS LEGAL ADVISERS MR FIFOOT LEGAL ADVISERS
CONFIDENTIAL