Mr Hum, HKD
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Secretary of State's Visit to Hong Kong: Speech
The Secretary of State has seen the draft speech attached to your minute of 13 May. I am sorry to say that he did not find it at all exciting.
He has marked certain sections of it which he thinks more or less have to appear. But he thinks that the best plan for the speech as a whole would be to try to put it
a longer, broader and more historical perspective. The speech might contrast where we were five years ago with the steady advance to a more assured future, with some miraculous achievements on the way. All this has been built on the talent and spirit of the people of Hong Kong. Essential ingredients have been the goodwill and support of the PRC and the UK, as part of a wider and more hopeful coming together. Hong Kong has been the catalyst of this wider change and the peace-maker of prosperity. (The latter argument will need very careful handling if we are to avoid making our object seem to be Sino-British relations rather than the good of Hong Kong.) There is every reason to believe that Hong Kong can retain that role. There is "nothing to fear but fear itself". The Secretary of State would also be grateful if Chris Meyer could take a careful look at this, because there will need to be two halves to the message, the first in the speech, and the second in the press conference. It would be helpful if you and Christopher could discuss this together.
16 May 1988
CC:
PS/Lord Glenarthur
Mr Gillmore
Mr McLaren
Mr Meyer, News Department
CONFIDENTIAL
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(A C Galsworthy)
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