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- 5 SEP 1985
USTRY
INDI
on Taken
CONFIDENTIAL
FROM: A C GALSWORTHY, HKD
DATE: 5 September 1985
Dr Wilson
любоп
ESTME
STMг Renton
Private Secretary
cc: Head News Department
A
C
MINISTERIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR HONG KONG
1.
The departure of Mr Luce and, as it is seen in Hong
Kong, the delay in appointing his successor as Minister
B responsible for Hong Kong, have caused intense excitement
in the media in Hong Kong. The re is speculation that it
may me an a change in policy, or that HMG is downgrading the
importance of Hong Kong in foreign affairs. The re i s now
great pressure
whe ther Mr Renton will be
responsible for Hong Kong, and whether he will carry out
to know
I
Mr Luce's plans to visit Hong Kong at the end of October
for the opening of the new Legislative Council.
understand that the press office at Number 10, and News
Department, and even Mr Renton himself in hospital are being beseiged by Hong Kong reporters.
2.
A holding line was agreed with the
the PS last night and telegraphed to Hong Kong.
3. While absurd, all this speculation in Hong Kong is in fact harmful and if it goes on many people there will come
to believe that the re i s s ome sinister significance in the delay in replying to these questions. It is therefore in our interest to stop the speculation as soon as possible.
CONFIDENTIAL
122