ZC
PEHPAN 8132
CONFIDENTIAL
DEDIP
FM PEKING
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 626
OF 070426Z MAY 93
CONFIDENTIAL HKB 010/2
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
20 MAY 1093
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Actur Teson
STRICTLY PERSONAL FOR RICKETTS, HKD, FROM AMBASSADOR
FCO TELNO 269: SIR PERCY CRADOCK
1. I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE INFORMATION IN CHRISTOPHER HUM'S FAXED LETTER TO ME OF 5 MAY AND IN TUR.
2.
I NOTE THAT PERCY IS CURRENTLY ATTENDING A WILTON PARK CONFERENCE ON CHINA. I WILL TRY TO SPEAK TO HIM ON THE TELEPHONE OVER THE WEEKEND, BUT I CANNOT BE SURE OF DOING SO BEFORE I LEAVE FOR GUANGXI AT CRACK OF DAWN ON 10 MAY. IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD ASK CHRISTOPHER IF HE COULD CONTACT PERCY EARLY NEXT WEEK AND PASS ON THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE ON MY BEHALF (HAVING FIRST ESTABLISHED THAT I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO SO MYSELF):
I HAD LOOKED FORWARD TO HAVING HIM TO STAY WITH ME AT THE RESIDENCE. BUT IT NOW SEEMS CERTAIN THAT I SHALL HAVE THE MINISTER FOR THE DISABLED, NICHOLAS SCOTT, AND HIS WIFE, STAYING AT PRECISELY THE SAME TIME. THE SCOTTS WILL BE GOING ON TO HONG KONG TO STAY WITH THE GOVERNOR.
IN VIEW OF THIS, AND AGAINST THE BACKGROUND WHICH JOHN COLES AND CHRISTOPHER HAVE EXPLAINED TO PERCY (AND TO ME) I HAVE RELUCTANTLY COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT IT WOULD BE BEST IF PERCY WERE TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO STAY ELSEWHERE ON THIS PARTICULAR OCCASION.
WITH TALKS NOW IN PROGRESS IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT I SHOULD RETAIN THE GOVERNOR'S CONFIDENCE. I DO HOPE THAT PERCY WILL UNDERSTAND. I SHALL LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING HIM DURING HIS VISIT IN ANY CASE.
MCLAREN
NNNN
HDI HKD
MRI HUM.
CONFIDENTIAL
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