CONFIDENTIAL
17457-
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SO FAR AS WE CAN ESTABLISH, NO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL WAS
IN TOUCH WITH THE PRESS AT ALL ABOUT YOUR VISIT BEFORE IT WAS
CANCELLED. BRITISH AIRWAYS HERE HAVE TOLD US THAT THEY BELIEVE
PUBLICITY FOR YOUR VISIT WAS PROBABLY INITIATED BY THEIR HONG
KONG OFFICE. IT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN YOUR CONTACTS WITH THE HONG KONG FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS' CLUB, WHICH GAVE RISE TO THE ARTICLE BY ANN QUON IN THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST OF 2 FEBRUARY. THERE
IS OF COURSE NO SUGGESTION IN THAT ARTICLE THAT THERE HAD BEEN ANY OFFICIAL BRIEFING, AND I CAN CONFIRM THAT SHE WAS NOT BRIEFED BY ANY OFFICIAL IN HONG KONG INVOLVED WITH THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR
YOUR VISIT BEFORE WRITING HER ARTICLE.
6.
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THE GOVERNOR WILL NO DOUBT REPLY HIMSELF TO YOUR LETTER.
BUT MEANWHILE HE HAS ASKED ME TO ASSURE YOU THAT BOTH HE AND THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WELCOME VISITS BY YOURSELF OR OTHER MEMBERS
OF PARLIAMENT AT ANY TIME.
7. I HAVE READ THE LETTER FROM ELSIE ELLIOTT WHICH YOU ENCLOSED: PERSONALLY, AND WITHOUT REGARD TO THE MERITS OF THE CASE, I HAVE NO DOUBTS OF THE SINCERITY OF THOSE PEOPLE IN HONG KONG WHO ADVOCATE THE EXTENSION OF BRITISH CITIZENSHIP TO THE
NON-CHINESE ETHNIC MINORITIES. AS YOU KNOW THE GOVERNMENT HAS
NOT YET FORMED A FINAL VIEW ON THIS REQUEST.
8. I CAN CONFIRM THAT THE OTHER MATTER WHICH YOU MENTION IN THE
POSTSCRIPT TO YOUR LETTER IS BEING PURSUED WITH THE HONG KONG
GOVERNMENT. ENDS
HOWE
LIMITED
HD/MKD
PS
PSMR RENTON.
PS/PUS
DR WILSON
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CONFIDENTIAL