SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1370
OF 240906Z AUGUST 1993
SECRET
HKB 301/1
RECE IN
CISTRY
25 A 1993
DESK OFFICER
REGISTRY
INDEX
PA
Action Taken
P.^. Redis.
175120
MDHIAN 2659
138
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
PERSONAL FROM ACTING GOVERNOR TO RICKETTS, HKD
YOUR TELNO 772: TALKS WITH THE CHINESE ON ELECTORAL ISSUES: BRIEFING THE BRITISH PRESS.
1. I AM INCLINED TO AGREE WITH THE GENERAL THRUST OF YOUR TUR AND
INDEED DISCUSSED THE POSSIBILITY OF ACTION OF THIS KIND WITH THE GOVERNOR LAST FRIDAY. BECAUSE OF THIS AND BECAUSE I KNOW THAT HE WOULD TAKE A CLOSE PERSONAL INTEREST, I SHOULD PREFER TO WAIT UNTIL HIS RETURN TO HONG KONG NEXT WEEK. I DO NOT THINK THAT WE WOULD
LOSE MUCH BY A BRIEF DELAY AND THERE IS CERTAINLY NO REAL MEDIA PRESSURE HERE AT THE MOMENT.
2.
I TAKE THE POINT ABOUT THE NEED TO BE VERY CAREFUL IN ANY
BACKGROUND BRIEFING THAT WE DO DECIDE TO UNDERTAKE. I AM HOWEVER UNEASY ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF BRIEFING ONLY IN LONDON AND I WILL
WANT TO DISCUSS THIS ASPECT WITH THE GOVERNOR.
ENDS
FORD
YYYY
MAIN
57
.HK POLICY
HKD
PUSD
FED
DISTRIBUTION
64
NTCD
PLANNERS
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LEGAL ADVISERS//MS BARRETT
LEGAL ADVISERS//MISS BROOKS NEWS D
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