GRS 260
CONFIDENTIAL
FM PEKING
CONFIDENTIAL
TO DESKEY 150245Z HONG KONG
TELNO 207
OF 1501562 OCTOBER 86
INFO DESKSY 15083OZ FCO
HKK out
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
12 NOV 1986
DESK OFFICIN
476
INFO DESKBY 150245Z HMY BRITANNIA INDEX
PA
Action Taker
HMY BRITANNJA (SHANGHAI) FOR PRIVATE SECRETARY.
FROM WILSON:
POSSIBLE STATEMENT BY SECRETARY OF STATE IN HONG KONG:
1987 REVIEW.
1. IN LIGHT OF HIS HONG KONG PRESS CONFERENCE, THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS BEEN CONSIDERING WHETHER HE OUGHT TO SAY SOMETHING FURTHER
ABOUT THE 1987 REVIEW WHEN PASSING THROUGH HONG KONG OPN SUNDAY 19
OCTOBER. YOU WILL SEE THAT HE TRAILED THIS POSSIBILITY WITH WU
(PEKING .TELNO 1991, PARA 13).
2. THE SECRETARY OF STATE WILL, IN ANY CASE, WISH TO SAY SOMETHING TO THE PRESS, EITHER ON ARRIVAL OR DEPARTURE FROM KALTAK, AS HE DID ON ARRIVAL FROM LONDON. THE QUESTNOIN IS WHETHER IT WOULD BE HELPFUL LOCALLY IN HONG KONG, TO REFER TO THE 1987 REVIEW AND, MF SO, WHETHER THIS CAN BE DONE IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE DO NOT PRODUCE A DAMAGING ADVERSE CHINESE REACTION. THERE IS ALSO THE ADDITIONAL QUESTION OF WHETHER SUCH A STATEMENT OUGHT TO BE MADE ON ARRIVAL (WHICH WOULD BE MORE NATURAL), OR ON DEPARTURE (WHICH WOULD HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OF PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO YOU FIRST). THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS INCLINED TO FAVOUR THE FORMER. MJFT CONTAINS THE DRAFT OF A POSSIBLE STATEMENT. THE IDEA MS THAT AT WILL BE USED INFORMALLY IN FRONT OF THE USUAL GATHERING OF WALTUNG PHOTOGRAPHERS, RATHER THAN READ OUT FROM A PHECE OF PAPER.
3. THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS NOT YET SEEN THE DRAFT. HE WILL NEED YOUR ADVICE, BOTH ON CONTENT AND TIMING. WE MUST GET THIS ADVICE TO CANTON ON SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER AT THE LATEST. WE CAN DISCUSS FURTHER WHEN I REACH HONG KONG TOMORROW. MEANWHILE, IF YOU, OR THE FCO, HAVE ANY IMMEDIATE REACTIONS, THESE COULD REACH THE SECRETARY OF STATE VIA BRITANNA IN SHANGHAM BEFORE 2300 (LOCAL) TODAY.
EVANS
PEHPAN 0541
LIMITED
HKD
FED
NEWS.D
PLANNING STAFF
}.
PS
PS/ MR. RENTON
PS/ PUS
MR. GILLMORE MR. WILSON
CONFIDENTIAL