TNAG-1097-FCO40-1347-Chinese-visa-office-in-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 105

SECRET

EXTENSIVE

PUBLICITY AND SIMPLY DROP THE DEMAND

FOR THE TIME BEING, AND REVERT TO IT AT A LATER STAGE.PROBABLY THEY

WILL SIMPLY REPEAT THEIR REQUEST, ASKING US TO

AT ALL EVENTS THE NATURE OF THEIR RESPONSE WILL

OPPORTUNITY TO JUDGE HOW STRONGLY THEY FEEL.

''ARRANGE" MATTERS.

GIVE US A FURTHER

5. I THINK THAT WE MAY WELL IN THE END HAVE TO LEGISLATE. BUT ON

BALANCE IT SEEMS WORTH WHILE MAKING A FURTHER ATTEMPT TO AVOID IT.

THERE IS ALSO THE ADVANTAGE THAT AN APPRAOCH IN THESE TERMS WOULD

REMIND THE CHINESE THAT ALMOST ANY SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT IN

RELATION TO HONG KONG MUST NOW BE SEEN IN THE CONTEXT OF 1997.

CRADOCK

LIMITED

HK & GD

FED

SIR E YOUDE

MR DONALD

[THIS TELEGRAM WAS NOT ADVANCED]

-

2

SECRET

Page 105Page 106