SECRET AND PERSONAL
29
Office
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London SW1A 2AH
RJT McLaren Esq CMG Political Adviser HONG KONG
Dear Robin,
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
attached
28 January 1982
нки охол
cof. Pas 23/3
1. I was somewhat concerned to see in the GIST of the Chinese press for 14 January remarks attributed to a senior
This government official' about the future of Hong Kong. contained two statements about the Prime Minister's visit to China; that she would hold comprehensive talks on the future with the Chinese and that the new Governor would probably not join her on the visit to China.
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2. It may of course be that no official in fact spoke on these lines and that the Sing Tao. Jih Pao was elaborating for its own purposes. But I am sure that in any case you already have in mind ways of impressing on all concerned the need to avoid attributable comment of this sort. It is not just that both remarks quoted are far too categoric at this stage and There that the Prime Minister's wishes must not be anticipated. is in addition the problem that the Chinese Government themselves may take statements of this sort as being a firm indication of British views.
3. I realise that, with the question of the future now a matter of public debate, it is very difficult for officials to refuse to discuss it at all. But it is especially important that nothing should be said attributably, which goes beyond what was said at the Lord Privy Seal's press conference. Even unattributable comments should avoid encouraging speculation about the handling of the Prime Minister's visit and our tactics with the Chinese. We should like officials to confine themselves to background discussion of the problems involved in maintaining confidence in Hong Kong without going into detail on possible solutions.
I don't 4. It would be helpful to have any thoughts on this. underestimate the difficultes at your end. Meanwhile we will be considering here whether any sort of general guidance for posts is necessary with the run-up to the Prime Minister's visit in mind.
Br 1 month
noted Plas
2/2
Jour
Dich
R D Clift
Hong Kong & General
Department
SECRET & PERSONAL
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