TNAG-1233-FCO40-1546-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 84

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Mr Morris

Cc: Mr Roberts, News Dept

of Thomson, FED

Enter Nooted Afikill * Bu fishs.

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1 2 JAN 1983

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FUTURE OF HONG KONG: BRIEFING SELECTED BRITISH CORRESPONDENTS

1

1. Your minute of 7 January. There is an inherent difficulty in this exercise. The correspondents listed in your minute will all want to write something fairly 'meaty' and will, of course, be interested in the British negotiating position and our assessment of what the outcome is likely to be. They will not be particularly interested in getting elements into articles with a view to changing the minds of the small group of Chinese leaders who decide policy towards Hong Kong.

2. As it happens I know four of the correspondents listed and indeed all of them except Richard Harris of The Times were present at the briefing I gave at Chatham House after Mrs Thatcher's visit to China and Hong Kong.

3. My instinct is to delay briefing these journalists until we have had some more information from Peking about the likely next steps but I am prepared to keep an open mind on this and suggest that I should have a meeting with you and Mr Roberts during the course of the week.

1.

10 January 1983

Astmeld

A E Donald

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My Donald is seeing M. Cass this week Thanson will be seeing

seeing the thain soon.

I bebets plans to see of Schreiber, Reheps with Mr Donald in the next few weeks. 2. 1 Agreed with & Perbots that we would take stock again after the Govenor's, visit, during which the questie of selective briefing may arise and by which

have been futter time the may

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