TNAG-0944-FCO40-1163-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1980 — Page 35

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24 SED 1980

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FM HONG KONG 2885842 SEP 80

TO IMMEDIATE F C O

Original at: AKK026|1

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TELEGRAM NUMBER 1216 OF 20 SEPTEMBER

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON

YOUR TEL B29 OF 19 SEPT

MR WALTER EASEY

100A

REUTERS MISQUOTED FCO SPOKESMAN AS SAYING QUOTE LORD CARRINGTON WOULD CERTAINLY BE DISCUSSING THE LONG TERM FUTURE OF HONG KONG DURING HIS VISIT BUT HE DISMISSED ALLEGATIONS OF A SECRET SETTLEMENT AS SHEER SPECULATION UNQUOTE. THE WORDS QUOTE LONG TERM FUTURE UNQUOTE MAY CAUSE PROBLEMS.

2. THE REUTERS REPORT HAS BEEN CARRIED ROUTINELY BY S CM POST

AND BY FIVE CHINESE NEWSPAPERS. HONG KONG STANDARD LONDON

CORRESPONDENT HEARN GOT IT RIGHT.

3. ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THIS MISQUOTATION BY REUTERS WOULD GIVE EASEY ADDED PUBLICITY WHICH WE WISH TO AVOID. SUBJECT WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY BE RAISED BY MEDIA HERE DURING LORD CARRINGTON'S FORTHCOMING VISIT. SUGGEST WE DEAL WITH IT THEN.

4. IN REPLY TO ENQUIRIES HERE WE SHALL USE PARA. TWO OF YOUR TELEGRAM AS THE AUTHORISED STATEMENT, TOGETHER WITH RELEVANT MATERIAL IN RETRACT 71111 SEPT.

5. YOU MAY WISH TO INFORM PEK ING.

MACLEHOSE

MINIMAL

HK & GD

FED NEWS D

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HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE

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