CODE 18-77
Mr Ricketts
cket
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НСС ооов
см
禽
Reference.
HONG KONG: FREEDOM
1. I see that the Chinese have grumbled quietly to Sir P Cradock about the Prime Minister's and Mr Patten's including the maintenance of Hong Kong's freedom among our objectives, as well as the time-hallowed economic prosperity and social stability.
2.
I do not think we should back off on this point, which improves the political defensibility of Government policy. But there may be advantage in using a formula about Hong Kong's life-style and the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong people; this draws closely on JD 16 and 17, which would make it somewhat more difficult for the Chinese to object.
3.
I attach the formula which Mr Fish and I used with HMOCS in Hong Kong (before I was aware of the Chinese complaints mentioned above). One could add at the end "in accordance with the Joint Declaration" in statements likely to reach Chinese ears.
N J Cox
WH 302
2650
13 May 1992
cc: Mr Bunten
Miss Saunders
Misi SAYS
No Brake Rrials
H. Apa
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13/
Соди
вы:
B
131S
PS/M. Goodlood PS/Ah batte
Sir J. Sales
J. Sales olv
Mr Burns,
1
Ms Everett, News!).
agree
Hal we need not
NJCACH
Mr Sex
Thank you
дж
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feel under pressure to resita from He Prime Minister's
не
formulation
and have so told
Mr Patten. Mr Cox's suggestive above is neat.
Lichett 13/5-