TNAG-1243-FCO40-1557-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 14

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

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SIR ROBIN DAY

KEN RITCHIE

Because they have said "Unless we get a deal by next September, we will go ahead

and impose one".

Well that is correct and I think that if we adopt the attitude that I think

Bernard Levin has come out with that we

are protecting British interests, that we revert to a certain colonial mentality towards Hong Kong then we are likely to

make all the same mistakes that were

made over the Falkland Islands.

SIR ROBIN DAY

Bernard.

BERNARD LEVIN

BERNARD LEVIN

RUBIN DAY

That has nothing whatever to do with it.

I am not saying we can, let alone should try to face down the Chinese with military means. Of course we can't and anyway we are bound by a treaty to return the territories. Bugger the territories, there are human beings there and their freedom matters to them and

many of them swam to Hong Kong to get away from communist China. Now what I fear and what I think would be

absolutely unforgiveable for this government or any successive government in Britain, is to negotiate a deal with the Chinese by which the Chinese communists promise to leave Hong Kong free. It will last three weeks after

the hand over.

It is your turn and please don't

everyone try to emulate Bernard Levin's command of language.

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