Sent 15/8
54/45/4/50
[456B) Wt. 32483/800 100m. 11/48 C.N.Ld. 748
to
C. O.
Mr.
Paskin
Mr.
Mr...
Mr.
14/55
Parly. U.S. S.
2/8
Permt. U.S. of S. 3/8 foar of
GA
Suche jeal E
To
go
to Sin A. Grantham
craft
for comment,
Mr..
Minister of State
Secretary of State
apprised of
Or A.
and yo
Your Reference.
DRAFT. S.0. LETTER
SECRET AND PERSONAL
J.F. NICOLL, ESQ., C.M.G.,
HONG KONG,
Esapt. Despatch
(of Ahn)
57 on
(ive 35-)
54145/4/49
FURTHER ACTION.
(23)
For Mr. Paskin's Signature
You will be aware of the revised proposals
for constitutional reform in Hong Kong which Grantham
brought with him in sketch form. Since he has been
back here the whole matter has been discussed
exhaustively with him, both by ourselves and by
Ministers. When Grantham saw the Secretary of State
a few weeks ago, the question was raised whether, in
view of all that has happened in the Far East since
last August, it is still "opportune" to be considering proposals for constitutional development in Hong Kong.
On this, Grantham's view was that it is very desirable
that something (i.e. the "open" despatch of the 25th
August and the Secretary of State's reply) should be
published in Hong Kong fairly soon, in order to avoid
giving a handle for agitation by left wing opinion.
That
would, of course, have to be causided Whether this view will continue to prevail if the
situation in the Far East should deteriorate, in
possible directions of which both you and we are
painfully conscious, remains to be seen.
2. As regards the proposals themselves the
conclusion has been reached that subject to certain
amendments which I mention below, the revised version
which Grantham brought home with him is a good deal
more satisfactory, having regard to the present
situation in the Far East, than that submitted last
August. But since the proposals submitted last year
/ were