TNAG-1036-FCO40-1286-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1981 — Page 149

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Mr Donald minute

Sir E Youde

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HKCK ouoli

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51

16 FEB 1981

DESK OFFICER INDEX

$1

REGISTRY

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$19.2

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166

1950

LONG-TERM FUTURE OF HONG KONG

1.

Sir E Youde asked for a draft reply to Sir P Cradock to his letter of 18 December 1980. A draft is attached which incorporates suggestions by Mr McLaren.

2. The draft is largely self-explanatory. As you see, it asks for telegraphic comments from Peking and Hong Kong by 24 January, which should enable us to submit to the Secretary of State by the end of the month.

3.

Mr McLaren suggested that in paragraph 5 we should include as a possibility for future contacts with the Chinese the idea of the Governor of Hong Kong paying a farewell visit to Peking. I have included this in square brackets. My own view, however, is that we should not mention this to Sir P Cradock at this stage. It is, of course, important to have the idea in mind. It may be the best way in the end to make progress on land leases. But since we have tended to support Sir M MacLehose's view on most of the tactical issues between him and Sir P Cradock, the suggestion of a visit by the former might be taken amiss. There would be plenty of time to revert to it later.

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R D Clift

9 January 1981

Hong Kong and General Department

cc Mr McLaren, FED

1. I am not much convinced by the proposal in para 8 of Sir Percy Cradock's letter of 18 December. There is, to begin with, an inconsistency between one of the arguments here and the general thesis at the beginning of his letter. He opens by suggesting that the Chinese may be reluctant or unable to make the first move or to

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