CONFIDENTIAL
M.P.'S WAS A UNIQUE POLITICAL PHENOMENON, AND WAS AT ITS HEIGHT AT THE TIME OF TSOI'S APPEAL. THERE WAS NO REASON WHATEVER D ANTICIPATE A SIMILAR SITUATION IN RESPECT OF ANY OTHER ISSUE OF REAL INTEREST TO HONG KONG, AND CERTAINLY NOT ABOUT A CHINESE REPRESENTATIVE OVER WHOM HMG HAD TAKEN A CONSISTENTLY FIRM AND STATESMAN-LIKE LINE.
B) WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WOULD HAVE SCRAPED HOME ON A VOTE ON THIS ISSUE OR NOT WAS A MATTER FOR THEIR JUDGEMENT, BUT IN ANY CASE IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN IN HONG KONG'S INTEREST TO BE THE SUBJECT
OF A MAJOR PARLIAMENTARY STORM NO MATTER WHAT THE BASIS FOR THE LATTE
MIGHT BE.
C) IF HE RESIGNED ON SUCH AN ISSUE HE WOULD BE ENDANGERING THE WHOLE BASIS AND STATUS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS
AND I WOULD CONSIDER IT GROSSLY IRRESPONSIBLE. FOR MY PART 1
WOULD NOT BE PREPARED TO CARRY ON HERE IF I COULD NOT COUNT ON. SENSIBLE SUPPORT FROM. MY FRIENDS.
4. CHINESE REPRESENTATION. KAN IS FUNDAMENTALLY A SHREWD, FFLEXIBLE AND RESPONSIBLE MAN, BUT HE BECOMES EMOTIONAL WHEN HE BELIEVES HIS OWN FACE OR THAT OF HONG KONG TO BE INVOLVED. ON THIS ISSUE HE ENTIRELY AGREES WITH OUR LINE, BUT HE HAS A NAGGING FEAR, LIKE THE REST OF THE ESTABLISHMENT, THAT H.M.G. AND THE C.P.G. MAY DO A DEAL BEHIND HIS BACK. ONE CAN ONLY INSSIST THAT HIS WILL NOT HAPPEN
AND THAT HONG KONG WILL CONTINUE TO BE FULLY CONSULTED.
5. IF HE RUNS ON ABOUT THESE ISSUES I WOULD RECOMMEND CHANGING THE
SUBJECT BY ASKING HIM QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MATTERS SUCH AS THE HOUSING, EDUCATIONAL OR SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAMMES, OR THE .REORGAINIZATION OF GOVERNMENT INVOLVED IN THE MCKINSEY REPORT.
MACLEHOSE
*
FILES
HD HKIOD
P.S.
PS/MR ROYLE
-2- CONFIDENTIAL
i
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.