TNAG-1014-FCO40-1264-HM-Government-s-responsibility-for-internal-affairs-in-Hong--1981 — Page 4

CODE 18-78

CONFIDENTIAL

Reference.

а

10/0

Mr Morrice

Mr Clift

STANDING COMMITTEE O

RES

AKK G16/1

RES:STRY NO. 51

13 APR 1981

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

REGISTRY

PRESSURE GROUP Actions Taband)

No MaDBA

The leaking of the minut

AW 13/1

STOPG have

1. been taken much more seriously in Hong Kong than I think we had appreciated here.

2. The first point is that it is generally believed that they were leaked by John Walden who retired recently from the post of Director of Home Affairs. Nobody has any evidence that it was Mr Walden but the finger is pointed at him because of the very unhappy atmosphere in which he departed from Hong Kong.

3. The second point is that the publication of these minutes has made the press more distrustful of the Hong Kong Government and it was suggested to me that this is reflected in a more anti-establishment and more pro- pressure group stance now being taken by the South China Morning Post. There is clearly nothing we can do about this but it is perhaps worth bearing in mind.

9 April 1981

རི་ངས་པོ་ཧ་ག

P J Williamson

m.

Hong Kong & General Department

CONFIDENTIAL