TNAG-1239-FCO40-1552-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 170

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MISS CLARE HOLLINGWORTH: CHATHAM HOUSE TALK ON HONG KONG

1.

Miss Hollingworth called on 12 July to discuss the talk she is to give at Chatham House on 19 July. She read out a resumé of her script. The general themes seemed to be the degree of unease in Hong Kong and the extent to which a number of articulate people were disillusioned with the British efforts on their behalf. On the other hand she had some useful views about the ineffectiveness of the Chinese plan for self-rule by Hong Kong and a lot of healthy scepticism about Chinese

assurances.

2.

She wants as usual to be sensational. I think she will probably start off by referring to a recent power blackout in Wanchai which she maintains was part of a plot by the Hong Kong Communists as a rehearsal for putting pressure on the Hong Kong Government. With her interest in defence she also intends to put in a good deal about Chinese plans to strengthen their military preparations in South China to fill the gap against the Russians which would be left by the departure of the British garrison.

3. I made a number of comments aimed at suggesting that for instance the Prime Minister's visit had not been a total disaster and that the Governor was not gagged by London. I doubt whether she will pay much attention. However under Chatham House rules, I do not think that here talk will do too much harm and it should be fun.

4.

Miss Hollingworth was very strong on the foolishness of our confidentiality'' policy. But she did acknowledge that the Hong Kong press were impossible in the sort of pressure they put on the Governor and maintained that if they could be taught the rules about background briefing more could be done. She is apparently going to give a course at the university next year to try to educate Hong Kong journalists in proper manners.

5. One additional point she mentioned was that a number of Commissioners and Consuls General in Hong Kong were very fed up at not being taken more into the confidence of the British about the negotiations. This we knew. But Miss Hollingworth said that there was a move by some of them to try to get their interests properly represented in Hong Kong. Some even thought they should

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