GRS 240
CONFIDENTIAL
MM F.C.O. 301653Z OCT 79
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING.
FOR GOVERNOR FROM MCLAREN.
CONFIDENTIAL
HKK 34+1
RECEVULUM REGISTRY NO. 51
TELEGRAM NUMBER 838 OF 30 OCTOBER
DESK OFFICER
PA
INDEX
tuo
See 220
Actice Taken
22
IMMIGRATION FROM CHINA.
215
1. THE OPENING SESSION OF TALKS BETWEEN THE PRIME MINISTER AND HUA WAS CONFINED TO INTERNATIONAL ISSUES AND HONG KONG QUESTIONS WERE NOT DISCUSSED. THE PRIME MINISTER HAS BEEN BRIEFED TO RAISE THE IMMIGRATION PROBLEM DURING THE SECOND PLENARY SESSION ON 1 NOVEMBER AND THERE WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO INTO MORE
DETAIL DURING THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S TALKS WITH HUANG HUA ON 2 NOVEMBER. IN THE MEANTIME CORTAZZI HAS DRAWN VICE-MINISTER ZHANG WENJIN'S ATTENTION TO THE SERIOUS DETERIORATION IN THE
SITUATION OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS.
2. WE WILL NEED TO ENSURE THAT OUR BRIEFS ARE UP TO DATE. FOR THIS PURPOSE WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR DAILY REPORTS OF THE NUMBER OF ARRESTS FOR THE REST OF THIS WEEK. THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S TALKS WITH HUANG HUA ON 2 NOVEMBER BEGIN AT 0930 SO THAT DAY'S TELEGRAM WILL NEED TO REACH US BY 0900 AT THE LATEST. 3. AS REGARDS PUBLICITY (YOUR TELNO 1523), WE THINK IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL IF THERE WAS SOME COVERAGE OF THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
IN THE BRITISH PRESS THIS WEEK. BUT THE FEELING HERE IS THAT IT WOULD BE COUNTERPRODUCTIVE IF THIS COVERAGE WAS SEEN TO BE OFFICIALLY INSPIRED, AS WOULD CLEARLY BE THE CASE IF YOU WERE TO MAKE A STATEMENT. WE THINK IT WOULD BE BEST IF ANY UNATTRIBUTABLE PRESS BRIEFING IN HONG KONG WAS IN SLIGHTLY LESS EMOTIVE TERMS THAN THE DRAFT IN YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 1524.
CARRINGTON
FILES
216
HKJG D
FED
PS| MRBLA KER
MRCORTAZZI
MR MURRAY
CONFIDENTIAL
2
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