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JOURNALISTS. THE ARGUMENTS ARE IN A NOTE HANDED TO MR LLOYD AT THE END OF HIS VISIT. ON JOURNALISTS PARTICULARLY I HAVE ASKED MR LLOYD TO ENSURE THAT MINISTERS ARE IN NO DOUBT OF THE POLITICAL DIFFICULTIES WE SHALL ALL FACE, IN TERMS OF A BAD PRESS FOR THE SCHEME, IF THEY ARE EXCLUDED.
(C) THE BRITISH BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN HONG KONG HAVE INDICATED TO THE MINISTER THAT THEY ARE UNHAPPILY WITH THE POTENTIAL LOSS OF THE SECONDMENT SCHEME. I CONTINUE TO SEE MERIT IN A SCHEME OPERATED UNDER EXISTING DISCRETION OUTSIDE THE 50,000 PACKAGE. THIS WOULD HELP TO GIVE THE SCHEME A WELCOME FROM BUSINESS INTERESTS IN THE U K: A POINT WHICH MUST BE SIGNIFICANT IN GETTING SUFFICIENT PARLIAMENTARY SUPPORT.
(D) PR HANDLING:
WE HAVE AGREED WITH THE MINISTER THAT HONG KONG AND LONDON NEED TO CO-ORDINATE CLOSELY ON PUBLIC HANDLING OF THE PACKAGE. WE HAVE AT MR LLOYD'S REQUEST PROVIDED A LIST OF THE SORT OF DIFFICULT PRESS QUESTIONS THAT WE FORESEE.
2. I AM SENDING YOU BY FAX COPIES OF THE PAPERS WE HANDED OVER ON PRINCIPAL OFFICIALS AND EXCLUDED CATEGORIES, AND OUR LIST OF PRESS QUESTIONS.
3. PLEASE COPY THIS TELEGRAM TO MORRIS, HOME OFFICE AND DONALD TSANG NOW VISITING CROYDON.
WILSON
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PROTOCOL
MR MCLAREN
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