CONFIDENTIAL
attitude will be to Hong Kong's future. Even the proposed changes in the Urban Council, though of less significance, would be best left for consideration until after the major policy review. To give any hint that changes are in the offing now could arouse premature speculation about our intentions and we might find ourselves forced to take measures which we would have preferred to avoid.
4. This leaves us therefore with no choice but to send a non-committal reply. I discussed the form this should take with Mr Murray who suggested that it should be as discursive as possible, taking up such of the points in the letter as we can turn to our advantage. I attach draft replies to the three Councillors and to Mr Johnson.
W.E. Quantill
WE Quantrill
Hong Kong and General Department
27 July 1978
MANACAAsinjv
I have recast the draft letter to Mrs Elliott to make it rather
more positive. I agree that some of the statements in Mrs Elliott's
letter are pretty wild but there is some validity in her basic
points about a more representative system in Hong Kong, and we cannot just give her the brush off. On the other hand, until we have thought things through in the context of relations with China, I fear that we cannot move much in her direction.
Men Clay
28 July 1978
CONFIDENTIAL
HA Cortazzi
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