TNAG-0848-FCO40-1058-Future-of-Hong-Kong-New-Territories-leases-1979 — Page 115

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4. IF ON THE OTHER HAND THE CHINESE THINK WE ARE TRYING TO PUSH THIS THROUGH FASTER THAN THE SITUATION MERITS, OR IF WE APPEAR OVER-ANXIOUS, THEY MAY BECOME SUSPICIOUS AND UNRESPONSIVE, OR

PUT A STIFF PRICE ON THEIR ACQUIESCENCE.

5. ONCE CHINESE ACQUIESCENCE IS OBTAINED WE WILL OF COURSE NEED

TO MOVE FAST. IT WILL STILL TAKE TIME TO PUT THROUGH THE

ORDER-IN-COUNCIL IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. IN HONG KONG I WILL HAVE

TO BRIEF AND OBTAIN THE APPROVAL OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND

SOME KEY MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. WHAT WE ARE

PROPOSING MAY FALL FAR SHORT OF WHAT MANY PEOPLE HERE WOULD HAVE:

LIKED. FOR SOME WEEKS, THEREFORE, SECRECY WILL HAVE TO BE

PRESERVED.

6. AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND I DO TRUST THAT BRIEFING FOR THE

SECRETARY OF STATE, AND BACKGROUND BRIEFING FOR THE PRESS IN ADVANCE OF HIS VISIT, WILL AVOID SUGGESTION THAT HONG KONG OR THE LEASES ARE MAJOR ITEMS IN HIS AGENDA AND FAR LESS THAT

AGREEMENT ON THE LEASES MIGHT BE ANNOUNCED AT THE TIME.

7. WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO PUSH THINGS ALONG, BUT WE MUST ON NO

ACCOUNT RISK A SETBACK THROUGH OVER-PREOCCUPATION WITH A QUICK -

COUP,

MACLEHOSE

FILES

HK & GD (6)

FED

LEGAL ADVISERS

FS

FS/LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS

PS/PUS

SIR A DUFF

MR CORTAZZI

MR MURRAY

[SENT ALSO BY BAG TO PEKING]

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