TNAG-1167-FCO40-1447-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 60

PERSONAL

布政司署

香港下亞畢道

* OUR Ref.:

來函檔號 YOUR REF.:

SECRET

GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT

LOWER ALBERT ROAD

HONG KONG

R D Clift Esq

Enti

Six & Yande

üt

Dins 513

~ Mr. Donald 26 February 1982

Hong Kong & General Deptshel oce with

F CO

Dear Dick,

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

чер

I have this in hand

wf73

29

See

Thank you for your letter of 28 January about the item headed "Date set for talks on HK's future" in the GIST for 14 January.

2.

The Sing Tao Jih Pao piece summarised in the GIST item clearly had its origin in the weekly background briefing for the press given by Denis Bray. Denis assures me that in this case the reporter concerned was making bricks from straw. On the occasion in question Denis spoke about the LPS's visit and said that what Mr Atkins had been told clearly marked a step forward. Someone asked about the timing of the Prime Minister's visit and whether she would pass through Hong Kong, to which he responded that she was likely to come here before or after going to Peking. He certainly did not say that the Prime Minister would hold comprehensive talks on the future of Hong Kong during her visit to China.

3.

Senior people in Government are well aware of the need to avoid commenting attributably on the future, whether or not in the context of the Prime Minister's visit. But speculation is rife and scarcely a week passes without some new report that a solution has been or is about to be found. The pet schemes of groups such as the Reform Club and individual lecturers and other "experts" also get extensive coverage. In these circumstances occasional background guidance is clearly desirable if only to discourage the wilder forms of speculation. But as you say it must be very carefully done.

4.

Speeches and other statements by the Governor can help to keep the debate in proportion. In case you have not seen it already I enclose a copy of his speech to the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce on 21 January; passage is in paragraph 22.

ever,

Your

Robin

(R JT McLaren)

SECRET

the key

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