TNAG-1169-FCO40-1449-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 47

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WANT TO ENLIST THE ASSISTANCE OF THIRD COUNTRIES: WHILE THEIR

INTENTIONS MIGHT BE ENTIRELY WELL MOTIVATED, THE CHINESE COULD

WELL TAKE SUCH MOVES AMISS AND GET THE IMPRESSION THAT WE WERE

TRYING TO ORGANISE PRESSURE ON THEM.

4. THE BEST WAY TO HANDLE ALL THIS INTEREST, AS YOU RIGHTLY

POINT OUT, IS TO PLAY THINGS LONG FOR THE TIME BEING. WE HAVE

DONE A GOOD DEAL OF BACKGROUND THINKING ON THIS QUESTION BUT

UNTIL WE HAVE GOT OUR STRATEGY RIGHT FOR THE PRIME MINISTER'S

VISIT, WE ARE SOMEWHAT INHIBITED IN DISCUSSION EXCEPT IN A

STRICTLY LIMITED SECRET CIRCLE. HOWEVER, WE HOPE TO PRODUCE SOME

GUIDANCE ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG DURING THE COURSE OF THE

SUMMER AS GENERAL BACKGROUND ON WHICH TO DRAW IN RESPONSE TO

INTERESTED ENQUIRERS.

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5. FINALLY, ON PARAGRAPH 2 OF YOUR TELELETTER OF 31 MARCH, I

HOPE THAT A GOOD DEAL OF THE BRIEFING OF THE JAPANESE OF THE KIND

SUFFICIENT FOR THEM TO BRIEF THEIR OWN BUSINESSMEN CAN BE DONE

EITHER IN HONG KONG (WHERE QUESTIONS OF CONFIDENCE ARE MOST LIKE-

LY TO ARISE) OR HERE IN LONDON. I OR SYDNEY GIFFARD CAN ALWAYS

GIVE CONFIDENTIAL BRIEFING ON WHAT IS CLEARLY AN EXTREMELY

SENSITIVE SUBJECT. I TAKE YOUR POINT THAT THE SUBJECT WILL

BECOME INCREASINGLY LIVE IN VIEW OF THE PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO

JAPAN AND CHINA THIS AUTUMN. I WOULD EXPECT, HOWEVER, THAT THE

PRIME MINISTER WOULD IF THE NEED AROSE BE ABLE TO BRIEF THE

JAPANESE PERSONALLY DURING HER VISIT. BUT THERE IS NO NEED TO

ADVERTISE THIS IN ADVANCE.

SIGNED A E DONALD

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