CONFIDENTIAL
4. If the Ambassador's presence for these discussions was
really essential, we should have to accept the situation and
live with it. However I doubt whether his presence is in
SO essential that it is worthwhile running this risk on
recommend that we should not
fact
this occasion.
I therefore
summon the Ambassador back.
Pasch
31 January 1986
1.
AC Galsworthy
Hong Kong Department
I think that the Ambassador's presence here during the Governor's visit is marginally desirable but not essential. In discussions with the Governor we must certainly give full weight to present Chinese perceptions and worries. But I think we have adequate information available here to do this even if Sir R Evans cannot be present.
2. Setting these considerations against the risk that summoning Sir R Evans back at the same time as the Governor would produce undesirable press stories about a "crisis" (which no doubt would be attributed to consideration of political reform in Hong Kong), I also take the view that it would be best not to invite the Ambassador back. He will in any case be coming in June for the visit of the Communist Party General Secretary, Hu Yaobang.
CONFIDENTIAL
سارت
D C Wilson