TNAG-1040-FCO40-1290-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1981 — Page 137

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and if the Governor paid a farewell visit to Peking there

might be a change of follow-up then.

5.

Meanwhile contacts will certainly continue between

the Chinese Government and leading personalities from

Hong Kong (eg Y K Pao). They can be useful in clarifying

to the Chinese the extent of the problem but there is

probably little scope for or prudence in using them as

direct intermediaries on a solution to the problem.

6.

If there were a slide in confidence we would need

to move fast, with Ministerial messages passed in London

and Peking. The despatch of a special emissary should not

be ruled out but would have to be handled very carefully to

avoid itself damaging confidence.

endorse range of options in paper and short-term tactics.

Ministers asked to

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