CONFIDENTIAL
184
FDW FT/LETT 038/06
T/LETT TOKYO
T/LETT PEKING
GRS 524
CONFIDENTIAL
TELELETTER
FROM MR A E DONALD, AUSS
FILE REFERENCE HKK 040/1 DATED 5 APRIL 1982
FOLLOWING FOR J S WHITEHEAD ESQ CMG CVO TOKYO
COPY TO SIR P CRADOCK PEKING
265 - 1
Copied to:-
Mr Mallaby (Planning Staff)
Mr Elliot (FED) Mr Giffard. Mr Clift (HKGD)
нни HKR 040/1
5!
# PÓSTE, M. 51 7 AMM:32
RJ MCLAREN HONG KONG
30
JAPANESE INTEREST IN THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG
W
1. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TELELETTER OF 18 MARCH ABOUT YOUR TALKS
WITH FUJII OF THE ASIAN AFFAIRS BUREAU. I WAS GRATEFUL FOR
ROBIN MCLAREN'S COMMENTS IN HIS TELELETTER OF 30 MARCH AND FOR YOUR FURTHER TELELETTER OF 31 MARCH.1167A
160714
See 196
16213
2. I AM GLAD THAT YOU AGREE THAT ROBIN MCLAREN'S POINTS MAKE
GOOD SENSE. I HAVE BEEN A LITTLE PERTURBED AT THE WAY IN WHICH A
NUMBER OF OTHER COUNTRIES AS WELL AS JAPAN, PARTICULARLY THOSE
WITH INVESTMENT INTERESTS IN HONG KONG, HAVE BEEN SHOWING INTEREST
IN THE FUTURE OF THE TERRITORY. WE HAVE SOME ATTENTION ALSO FROM
EMBASSIES HERE. OBVIOUSLY THE LORD PRIVY SEAL'S VISIT TO CHINA
LAST JANUARY, THE CHANGE OF GOVERNOR IN MAY AND THE PRIME
MINISTER'S VISIT TO CHINA IN SEPTEMBER ARE IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTORY
FACTORS. BUT AS ROBIN MCLAREN RIGHTLY POINTS OUT, THERE ARE
ENOUGH WOULD-BE INTERMEDIARIES IN HONG KONG ALREADY, AND WE MUST
CLEARLY DO ALL WE CAN TO MINIMISE THE RISK OF CONFUSION.
3. OF COURSE, WE CANNOT TURN DOWN REQUESTS BY EMBASSIES OR
FOREIGN MINISTRIES FOR INFORMATION ON THE SUBJECT. MUCH GOES ON
ALREADY AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS SPOKEN IN CONFIDENCE WITH
THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF MALAYSIA AND SINGAPORE (ON HIS RECENT
ASEAN TOUR). IT IS ONE THING, HOWEVER, TO PASS ON OUR VIEWS IN
A GENERAL WAY TO FRIENDLY QUESTIONERS, BUT ANOTHER TO RISK HAVING
OUR FRIENDS AND ALLIES THINK THEY ARE HELPING US BY BRIEFING
BUSINESSMEN OR TAKING THE SUBJECT UP WITH THE CHINESE
AUTHORITIES. FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE, I AM SURE WE DO NOT
222
1
CONFIDENTIAL
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.