TNAG-1167-FCO40-1447-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 88

K

HOFO @11/17

RR HONGAID

RR FCO

GR 152

CONFIDENTIAL

Marclift

Mr. McQuach Mr. Williams for Jaz

FM HONG KONG 170352Z FEB 82

123/2

16124/HKGI (74

NO DISTRIBUTION

THIS TELEGRAM WAS NOT

THI

TO ROUTINE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON

TELEGRAM NUMBER 260 OF 17 FEBRUARY

INFO F CO

1. ECONOMIST CONFERENCE.

See (43

ADVANCED

HKGO-Ldu

HKK 040/

RECEIVED RETREEXY MO. 51

1 O

DESK OFFICER INDEX

201

REGISTRY

*ction Takes

Phone

See 84A)

SeePYA

2. THE TIMING AND TITLE OF THE CONFERENCE ARE PARTICULARLY UNFORTUNATE. THE GOVERNOR IS MOST ANXIOUS THAT WE SHOULD DO NOTHING

OURSELVES OR PARTICIPATE IN ANY EXERCISE WHICH MIGHT SUGGEST TO AN OVER IMAGINATIVE OBSERVER IN CHINA THAT WE WERE MOUNTING A CAMPAIGN TO PRESSURE THEM ABOUT THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG. IT IS HOPED THAT HONG KONG PARTICIPATION WILL BE SUBSTANTIALLY DOWNGRADED.

3. IT FOLLOWS THAT YOUR RELUCTANCE CHAIRING OR OPENING THE CONFERENCE IS ENDORSED. IT HAS FURTHER BEEN DECIDED THAT HONG KONG GOVERNMENT PARTICIPATION SHOULLD BBE QONLY AT THE TECHNICAL LE

SAY FROM ECONOMIC SERVICES OR MONETARY AFFAIRS BRANCHES.

4. SANDBERG HAS ALREADY DECLINED BUT AN ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER

WILL ATTEND.

5. IT IS A GREAT PITY THE SPONSORS DID NOT DESIGN A CONFERENCE MORE DIRECTLY AIMED AT INVESTMENT AND TRADE. THE STRONG POLITICAL ELEMENT MEANS THAT HKG PARTICIPATION CANNOT BE AT A HIGH LEVEL.

MACLEHOSE

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