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18
FROM: P F Ricketts
Hong Kong Department
DATE: 7 October 1992
Mr Davies FED
Cc: Mr Hum
PA
(34
MR YAHUDA'S ARTICLE ON THE HONG KONG NEGOTIATIONS
Many thanks for your minute of 30September (sorry that other preoccupations have delayed this reply).
1.
2.
I have not seen your proposed answer. I attach a minute from Mr Bunten which picks out a number of factual errors in the article. I think the point in para 2(i) of Mr Bunten's minute is worth pointing out to Mr Yahuda, although I would not be inclined to get into a detailed correspondence with him on the text of his article.
3.
I faxed the article some days ago to Hong Kong. I have not yet heard from them (not surprisingly), but I very much agree with you that it would be worth making the point to Mr Yahuda sooner rather than later that we were surprised to see officials quoted by name in his article, and wondered whether those concerned had agreed that their comments would be "on the record". When Mr yahuda came to see me, he made clear that it was for background purposes. I expect that Messrs Galsworthy, Ehrman and Cradock also thought that they were talking to Mr Yahuda under "Chatham House rules". I think we would suggest to him that if he is intending to publish an article quoting officials by name, he should at least check with them that they agree and that they are content that their remarks have been accurately quoted.
yahuda.GEN.bern
Wickeith
PF Ricketts