SCHEDULE OF CHANGES REQUIRED IN REVISED CHAPTER OF SIR PERCY CRADOCK'S BOOK
FIRST PRIORITY
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Page 16: ".....British domestic and prestige considerations
counted more than the needs of the Colony. The final break could be seen a dereliction of duty." Goes well beyond reasonable criticism of the Government's policy. As well as being factually wrong, likely to encourage the Chinese
Government in misapprehensions about the basis of British
policy.
Page 17:
"The main product of a rejected policy (ie the Joint Declaration) should be the insurance against the full
consequences of its successor and should supply the safety
net against the casualties of a disastrous high-wire act."
Clear implication that British policy towards Hong Kong based
on the Joint Declaration has been rejected in favour of
something else. Can only make future negotiations with China
more difficult.
Page 19: "The policy of cooperation with China.....is the
only one that will allow Britain to leave the stage with a
clear conscience." Damaging in implying that HMG's current
policy is not one of cooperation.
SECOND PRIORITY
Page 14:
The talks "made no progress": factually incorrect:
comment offered in the guise of insider knowledge
schedule.pc.PETER
JEB