CONFIDENTIAL
Mr Wr3m хра
a po R731/8
112)
Mr McLaren to raise this problem informally with the Governor while he is in London.
HK B 04014
высмо Rosalind Manda
R M Marsden
[HONG KONG MR WIGGHAM'S SPEECH]
1.
:
Paragraph lb) of Miss Marsden's minute describes the position well. The only gloss I would add is that Hong Kong Government officials at the Secretary level (like Mr Wiggham) are in effect the Hong Kong Government's "Ministers". It is normal practice for them to make statements and speeches on questions falling within their areas of responsibility. Matters which affect foreign affairs (in particular, relations with China) fall into a different category. I would normally have expected Mr Wiggham's speech to be cleared textually with the Governor and for the Governor to have consulted us about any passages which he thought likely to raise Chinese eyebrows.
2. As Miss Marsden suggests, I propose to have a quiet word with the Governor when he is in the office later this week: Mr Maude's points in paragraph 3 of your minute of 21 August are pertinent.
30 August 1989
Cc:
PS
PS/Lord Brabazon Mr Gillmore o/r Mr Grant, News Dept Miss Marsden, HKD
CONFIDENTIAL
R J T McLaren