TNAG-1168-FCO40-1448-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 34

TELELETTER TO HONG KONG

GRS 189

SECRET

PERSONAL

SECRET

HKK

040/1

28853 - 1

KI, M.

PG02413

TELELETTER

125]

FROM R D CLIFT, HONG KONG AND GENERAL DEPARTMENT

FILE REFERENCE HKK 040/1 DATED 18 MARCH 1982

PERSONAL

FOLLOWING PERSONAL FOR SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, GOVERNOR, HONG KONG

YOUR TELNO 260: FUTURE OF HONG KONG

1.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS SEEN THIS EXCHANGE OF TELEGRAMS

AND HAS COMMENTED THAT ANY DISCUSSION ON BRITISH ADMINISTRATION

SHOULD BE KEPT TO A MINIMUM. IN HIS VIEW THE RIGHT ANSWER TO THE

QUESTION WHETHER CONTINUED BRITISH ADMINISTRATION IS ESSENTIAL TO

THE MAINTENANCE OF CONFIDENCE IS 'YES'. HE ALSO CONSIDERS THAT

YOU SHOULD AVOID BEING PRESSED INTO THE EXPANSION IN PARAGRAPHS

2 AND 3 OF YOUR TUR, PARTICULARLY AS REGARDS THE TIMING OF A

POSSIBLE CHINESE TAKEOVER.

2. I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE VERY MUCH IN MIND THE NEED TO AVOID

BEING INVOLVED IN TOO SPECIFIC A DISCUSSION IN ADVANCE OF THE

PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT. IN SOME WAYS THE TELEGRAMS MAY HAVE

BECOME TOO DETAILED IN FORECASTING HOW YOUR DISCUSSION WITH WANG

MIGHT CO. I AM SURE THAT WE ARE AGREED THAT THE RIGHT LINE IS

TO CONCENTRATE IN GENERAL TERMS ON WAYS IN WHICH CONFIDENCE CAN

BE MAINTAINED WITHOUT GOING TOO FAR INTO THE DETAILED SOLUTION.

SIGNED R D CLIFT

1

SECRET

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