-2-
4.
5.
6.
If there is no possibility of such a deal what arrangements can be made for representative government in Hong Kong at an early stage ?
Because of the very great dangers for the future of the Colony as an international business centre, we would hope an informal international conference of business and other groups with special interests in Hong Kong might be set up. So far the Anglo-Chinese Declaration of 1984 makes no provision for such a dimension.
What arrangements would you foresee for the several thousand people whose service to the Crown might place them in special jeopardy after the takeover ?
Had the House still been in Session we would have sought an early interview with you for we are extremely concerned about the whole question of Hong Kong's future. I shall, myself, be travelling to Hong Kong next month and would hope to have useful meetings with a number of important people there whose confidence is at the moment gravely shaken. I would certainly hope to have had an answer to this letter, and received the benefits of whatever comments you may care to make, by the time I leave on the Hong Kong journey.
Finally I would like to send you my warmest personal good wishes and congratulations on your new and very heavy responsibilities. I know the "Friends of Hong Kong" would wish to be associated with this most cordial wish for a very successful tenure of this great Office.
C. 9