RESTRICTED

FM FCO

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELNO 1448

OF 311745Z JULY 90

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

RESTRICTED

HKC301

301/1

3 AUG 1990

Action Taker

UKREP JLG HONG KONG BTC HONG KONG

49

016232 MDHOAN 3384

FROM HKD

POSSIBLE ARTICLE BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE IN THE TIMES

1.

PARTLY IN RESPONSE TO SOME RECENT UNHELPFUL EDITORIALS IN THE UK PRESS ABOUT MR MAUDE'S VISIT (AND THE SUBSEQUENT CHINESE PRESS RELEASE ABOUT THE NATIONALITY ACT), THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS DECIDED TO TRY TO PLACE AN ARTICLE IN THE TIMES LATER THIS WEEK. THE AIM OF THE ARTICLE IS NOT TO ADDRESS THESE EDITORIALS DIRECTLY BUT TO GIVE AN UP BEAT STATEMENT OF OUR POLICY ON HONG KONG.

2. WE ARE FAXING A COPY OF THE DRAFT ARTICLE AND THE RELEVANT EDITORIALS TO BRADLEY (ALSO FOR ONWARD TRANSMISSION TO

UKREP JLG AND OSBORNE, BTC) AND DAVIES (PEKING). GRATEFUL FOR ANY COMMENTS DESKBY 01090OZ AUGUST.

3. YOU AND COPY ADDRESSEES WILL NO DOUBT WISH TO PUBLICISE THE ARTICLE AS APPROPRIATE LOCALLY. WE SHALL ENSURE YOU RECEIVE A COPY OF THE FINAL TEXT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BEFORE PUBLICATION.

HURD

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

LIMITED

HKD

NEWS D

HD/FED

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