TNAG-1237-FCO40-1550-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 174

THIS IS A COPY THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN 4 CLOSED FOR

YEARS UNDER FOI

EXEMPTION No.....40+ 3&4 41, 27(1)

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DESKBY 2301002.

9064

ON THE CONTRARY, WE THINK IT COULD PROVOKE SPECULATION AND UNEASE.

WE REALISE THAT THE CHINESE WOULD DISLIKE A REFUSAL OF THE INVITATION BUT WE AGREE WITH HM AMBASSADOR THAT THE RISKS OF ACCEPTANCE WOULD BE GREATER. MOREOVER, WE CANNOT BE SURE HOW THINGS WILL GO IN THE PÉKING TALKS AND IT IS THUS NOT PRACTICABLE

TO DECIDE NOW ON THE DESIRABILITY OF GESTURE TO THE CHINESE.

4.

WE TAKE THE AMBASSADOR'S POINT THAT THE POSSIBILITY OF A PRIVATE VISIT SHOULD BE KEPT OPEN. HOWEVER, WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS ON WHETHER

SHOULD BE ACTIVELY

ENCOURAGED TO SEEK SUCH AN INVITATION AT THIS STAGE. WOULD HE BE THE BEST PERSON TO GET OVER CONVINCINGLY POINTS WHICH WOULD AD- VANCE HONG KONG'S INTERESTS?

5.

OF

WE ALSO TAKE THE AMBASSADOR'S SUGGESTION ABOUT THE FORM REFUSAL OF THE INVITATION, BUT IT COULD CARRY IMPLICATIONS FOR THE FUTURE WHICH WE HAVE NOT CONSIDERED, AND ARE NOT READY TO PUT OVER. WE SUGGEST IT MIGHT BE BETTER IF WE WERE SIMPLY TO SAY THAT IT WOULD NOT SUIT HIS CONVENIENCE TO ATTEND

PYM

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

· TERLEND

HD/HEGD HD/TED

HD/PLANNING STAFF HD/PUSD

PS

PS/MR HURD

PS/LORD BELSTEAD PS/FUS

SIR J BULLARD

MR GIFFARD

MR DONALD

COFTES 10 SIR I SINCLAIR

MR ROBERTS

LEGAL ADVISER

NEWS D

MR COLES

NO 10 DOWNING STREET

MR MARIE,

JENUS STATI.

TOE

2

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