TNAG-0607-FCO40-755-Monitoring-progress-made-on-planning-papers-on-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 183

GR 175

IMMEDIATE

CYPHER/CAT A

FR HONG KONG 030801Z

CONFIDENTAL,

CONFIDENTIAL

TO IMMEDIATE F.C.0 TELNO.993 OF 3 OCTOBER,

M.l.P.T.

LEG.CO. SPEECH.

HKK 013 | 1,5 013/1.1

See 104

11/11/1

1. I EXPLAINED TO STEWART THE ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL SECTION WOULD HAVE TO BE COMPLETELY RE-DRAFTED, DUE BOTH TO ERRORS IN IT AND TO THE NEED TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF MY ASSESSMENT OF BOTH PROSPECTS OVER THE E.E.C NEGOTIATIONS AND PUBLIC REACTIONS TO THER.

2. MY PROBLEM IS THAT IF I DO NOT REFLECT PUBLIC OPINION ON THIS ISSUE, OR APPEAR TO UNDERPLAY IT, IN A SPEECH OUTLINING INCREASES IN EXPENDITURE ACROSS A WIDE FRONT, ACCUSATIONS OF COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL NAIVETY WILL UNDERMINE ANY INFLUENCE OVER THE PROGRESS OF THE SOCIAL AND OTHER PLANS DESCRIBED. MY LINE MUST THEREFORE BE THAT THOUGH THE E.E.C DEMANDS ARE UNREASONABLE AND DAMAGING, THEY MUST BE SEEN IN PERSPECTIVE AND DO NOT CALL IN QUESTION, AT ANY RATE FOR THE TIME BEING, PLANNED ADVANCES IN CAREFULLY PREPARED PROGRAMMES. THIS INEVITABLY INVOLVES PRETTY STRONG CRITICISM OF THE E.E.C PROPOSALS. PASSAGE IS IN M.1.F.T EN CLAIR.

MACLEHOSE

FILES

ARGO (5)

OLA

ECONOMISTS D

EID (E)

PS/LORD GORONWY ROBERTS

MR CORYĄ ZZI

MR MURRAY

CONFIDENTIAL