CONFIDENTIAL
33
000534 MDHIAN 8311
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2741
OF 11110OZ SEPTEMBER 90
PERSONAL FOR PAUL, HKD FROM GOVERNOR
TOP COPY
O
?MB DIST? HUB 026/
SEP 1990
OMELO...!
VISIT BY LORD CAITHNESS : MEETINGS WITH EXCO AND OMEL
·
WITH
1 I HAVE DISCUSSED HANDLING OF THESE TWO MEETINGS WITH LYDIA
DUNN. AS YOU WILL REMEMBER FROM PREVIOUS VISITS, THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TWO MEETINGS ARE VERY DIFFERENT. DISCUSSIONS IN EXCO ARE CONFIDENTIAL. THAT CONFIDENCE WILL BE RESPECTED. THE MINISTER SHOULD FEEL NO INHIBITIONS ABOUT BEING FRANK. NOR ABOUT ASKING FOR ENLIGHTENMENT ON FACTS OR ADVICE ON POLICY.
2. I SHOULD LIKE THE EXCO MEETING TO BE A MORE GENUINE DISCUSSION THAN WE HAVE MANAGED TO ACHIEVE BEFORE. I HAVE ASKED MEMBERS TO SPEAK OFF-THE-CUFF BUT CANNOT GUARANTEE THERE WILL BE NO SURREPTITIOUS CHEATING BY LOOKING AT NOTES.
3. THE GENERAL SUBJECTS LIKELY TO BE COVERED ARE AS FOLLOWS :
A) INTRODUCTION ON GENERAL MOOD BY LADY DUNN:
B) INFLATION LED BY WILLIE PURVES. MAIN POINTS LIKELY TO BE :
I) MUCH PUBLIC CONCERN :
II) NEED FOR PROBLEM TO BE TACKLED EFFECTIVELY:
III) MAY REQUIRE LARGER SCALE OF IMPORTATION OF FOREIGN LABOUR.
C) CIVIL SERVICE/POLICY/LAW AND ORDER - PROBABLY JOHN SWAINE, RITA FAN AND ROSANNA TAM. POINTS LIKELY TO BE MADE:
I) CONSIDERABLE PUBLIC DISQUIET:
II) NO EASY SOLUTION: BUT SIMPLY HANDING OUT CASH IS NOT LIKELY
TO BE THE ANSWER: