Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London SW1A 2AH
W N Wenban-Smith Esq British High Commission OTTAWA
Telephone 01-
FILE
(16)
Your reference
Our reference
270 2655
Date
HKD 30111
нко
27 June 1989
Dear Wemban Smith,
TORONTO STAR : HONG KONG EDITORIAL
1.
esh 3/
Thank you for your letter of 23 June to David Harrison in MVD enclosing a draft response to the Toronto Star editorial of 22 June on Hong Kong. We are happy for you to take up the cudgels as you suggest, but in the light of recent events in Peking and increased anxiety in Hong Kong we feel a more sensitive approach is required. May I suggest that you replace the final third of your draft letter (from "What we have not accepted ...") with the following, or something similar containing these elements:
"Naturally, recent tragic events in China have seriously shaken confidence in the territority. My government have a particular responsibility for Hong Kong people at this difficult time and they are not shirking it. The continued success of Hong Kong lies in securing conditions for the future which will enable Hong Kong people to remain there in peace and prosperity. The Joint Declaration remains the principal means towards that end. At the same time the Government are looking sympathetically and urgently at what further assurances might be given to enable people in Hong Kong to have confidence in the future and remain there. Mass emigration is not the answer.
"
Your em
Wh hiz
G Leicester
Hong Kong Department
сс
:DM Harrison Esq, MVD