TNAG-1224-FCO40-1537-Visits-to-the-UK-by-official-and-unofficial-members-of-the-E-1983 — Page 72

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3. YOU WILL ALSO WISH TO GIVE CAREFUL CONSIDERATION TO THE

QUESTION OF PUBLIC PRESENTATION OF THIS VISIT, GIVEN THAT IT NOW LOOKS LIKELY TO COME JUST BEFORE OR JUST AFTER THE FORMAL TALKS. THIS CLOSE JUXTAPOSITION WILL LEND CREDENCE TO RUMOURS OF

A BREAKTHROUGH IN THE NEGOTIATIONS, AND PERHAPS TO FEARS THAT WE HAVE CONCEDED SOVEREIGNTY. YOU WILL BE WELL AWARE OF THE SORT

OF SPECULATION IN WHICH THE HONG KONG PRESS WILL INDULGE.

CHINESE LEAKS MAY COMPLICATE THE PICTURE.

THE FACT THAT ALL NINE UNOFICIALS ARE GOING TO LONDON WILL

ENCOURAGE CONJECTURE THAT SOMETHING OF GREAT SIGNIFICANCE HAS

OCCURRED IN THE TALKS. PUBLICITY WILL THEREFORE REQUIRE THE

MOST CAREFUL HANDLING.

CRADOCK

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

LIMINUED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

HD/PLANNING STAFF HD/PUSD

PS PS/LADY YOUNG

PS/MR LUCE

PS/PUS

SIR J BULLARD

COPIES TO

SIR I SINCLAIR LEGAL ADVISER MR BURROWS LEGAL ADVISERS

MR ROBERTS NEWS D

MR MARTIN

MR FLOWER

ASSESSMENTS STAFF CABINET OFFICE

PUSD

MR COLES NO 10 DOWNING STREET

SIR A PARSONS 11

H

MR GIFFARD

MR DONALD MR WRIGHT

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