PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL
we see a real risk of damage to our continuing negotiations with China if Sir P Cradock gives a detailed account of confidential negotiations
conducted in the recent past when he was a senior official in a sensitive post.
In particular, this will encourage the Chinese in their belief that Sir P Cradock represents a strand
of thinking within the Government, that our counsels are divided, and that if they hold out they will
extract concessions from us.
We disagree with his view that British policy
changed last October and has now changed again.
If he decided to go ahead with publication we would
have to make plain that this was against our advice.
In those circumstances we would wish to see the
deletion of two potentially damaging revelations in
the section on the Airport:
I would be grateful to know whether you are content with this approach.
THIS IS A COPY
THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN
CLOSED UNDER
FOI EXEMPTION NO. 27)
SIR J COLES
governor11.6
PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL