TNAG-0983-FCO40-1202-Immigration-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-1980 — Page 54

1662

GR 350

SECRET

SECRE T

171

FM PEKING 170647Z SEP 80

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 592 OF 17 SEP 80

INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG

167

YOUR TELNO 7811 TLLEGAL IMMIGRATION

HKK

34111

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51 19 SEP 1980

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

w

дит

RECISTRY

Aw2 &ld

see (1772

173

GRA

1. I DO NOT WANT TO OPPOSE THIS VISIT BUT HAVE RESERVATIONS

ON TWO COUNTS. FIRSTLY, COMING IMMEDIATELY AFTER YOUR VISIT

TO HONG KONG AND PEKING, IT WOULD INEVITABLY GIVE RISE TO

SPECULATION THAT SOME MAJOR INITIATIVE ON EITHER THE FUTURE

OR IMMIGRATION WAS UNDER WAY. ACCORDING TO THE TIMETABLE

PROPOSED IN HONG KONG TELNO 1171 PARA 10, THE THREE DAYS BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT AND ANNOUNCEMENT OF LEGISLATION

SHOULD LESSEN THE DANGERS, BUT WE HAVE TO ALLOW FOR THE POSSIBILITY THAT (EG THROUGH LACK OF FULL COOPERATION FROM THE CHINESE SIDE)

THE TIMING MIGHT SLIP, OR EVEN THAT IT MIGHT PROVE IMPOSSIBLE TO IMPLEMENT THE POLICY.

2.

SECONDLY, I HAVE DOUBTS ABOUT THE GOVERNOR PERSONALLY SEEKING

AGREEMENT FROM THE GOVERNOR OF GUANGDONG ON A PRACTICAL

QUESTION OF THIS SORT. I DO NOT OPPOSE THE IDEA OF HIM PAYING

A VISIT TO GUANGZHOU AT SOME STAGE. BUT I SHOULD PREFER IT

NOT TO BE SO DIRECTLY CONNECTED WITH A MATTER OF SUCH IMMEDIATE

AND OPERATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE. THE MATTER WILL BE DEALT WITH LOCALLY AND NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSED IN DETAIL THERE, BUT WE SHOULD NOT ALLOW OUR POSITION THAT THE APPROPRIATE INTERLOCUTORS

FOR THE GOVERNOR ARE THE CENTRAL LEADERSHIP IN PEKING RATHER

THAN THE HEAD OF THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT IN GUANGDONG TO BE

ERODED.

3.

I SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE

FOR A SMALL TEAM OF OFFICIALS, PERHAPS INCLUDING THE SECRETARY

FOR SECURITY AND THE POLITICAL ADVISER TO PAY A VISIT TO

GUANGZHOU, WHERE THEY COULD SEEK INTERVIEWS WITH AND THE COOPERATION OF THE REGIONAL MILITARY AS WELL AS THE PROVINCIAL

CIVIL AUTHORITIES. SUCH A VISIT COULD TAKE PLACE UNANNOUNCED

AND THE DANGERS OF UNHELPFUL SPECULATION WOULD THEREBY BE

REDUCED. IF NEED BE THEY COULD CARRY A PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM

THE GOVERNOR TO THE GOVERNOR OF GUANGDONG.

CRADOCK

LIMITED

HK & GD

[THIS TELEGRAM WAS NOT ADVANCED]

FED

PS

PS/LPS

PS/MR BLAKER

PS/PUS

SIR E YOUDE MR DONALD

SECRET