CONFIDENTIAL
3. IN MORE CONCRETE TERMS, FAVOUR AS MUCH CONTACT AS POSSIBLE BETWEEN SENIOR PEOPLE IN HONG KONG AND LU PING DURING THE LATTER'S VISIT TO THE TERRITORY (HE TOLD US TODAY THAT THIS WOULD BE FROM 26 DECEMBER TO 2 FEBRUARY), WITH THE OBJECT BOTH OF DIMINISHING CHINESE SUSPICIONS AND OF ATTEMPTING TO ESTABLISH PARAMETERS OF THEIR THINKING ABOUT THE BASIC LAW (HONG KONG TEL NO 2852). 1 THINK IT WOULD BE USEFUL FOR ME TO INVITE ZHOU NAN TO DINNER SOME TIME IN EARLY JANUARY, WITH THE TWIN PURPOSES OF DOING MORE TO ALLAY THE SUPICIONS OF THE CHINESE, AND OF SEEKING TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY ARE LIVELY TO SAY TO MR RENTON LATER IN THE MONTH. FINALLY, I AM ATTRACTED BY THE IDEA OF MR RENTON'S
J
BRINGING A MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO WU XUEQIAN. THE PURPOSES OF SUCH A MESSAGE WOULD BE TO KNOCK ON THE HEAD SERIATIM CHINESE MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT OUR MOTIVES AND INTENTIONS. WE COULD NOW I BELIEVE DRAW UP A FAIRLY COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF
THESE.
EVANS
HONG KONG AGREEMENT
LIMITED HD/HKD HD/FED
HD/PLANNING STAFF HD/PUSD
DEP HD/PUSD
RES D (MR WALKER)
PS
PS/MR RENTON
PS/FUS
SIR W HARDING
MR WILSON
BIR J FREELAND
MR J CROWLEY FUSD PS/LADY YOUNG
-2-
COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)
MR ROBERTS NEWS DEPT MR FIFOOT LEGAL ADVS MR PEIRCE. ASST STAFF
CABINET OFFICE
MR MALLABY CABINET OFFICE MR DRC CHRISTOPHER
CABINET OFFICE SIR P CRADDOCK NO 10 DOWNING ST. MR WOOD LEGAL ADVISERS
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