TNAG-1250-FCO40-1564-Press-reports-on-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 33

GPS 100

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG 080905Z DEC 83

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

TELEGRAM NUMBER 1903 OF 8 DECEMBER 1983

TOP COPY

MKK040/2

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

- BUCL 1983

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

MY TELNO 1901: FUTURE OF HONG KONG: FINANCIAL TIMES ARTICLE

توقع

18

AFB E

1. COTTRELL'S ARTICLE WAS NOT (NOT) BASED ON ANY CONVERSATION WITH OFFICIALS HERE. WE DO SEE HIM FROM TIME TO TIME, BUT HE HAS NOT BEEN IN TOUCH FOR SOME WEEKS. UMELCO MEMBERS ARE CERTAIN TO RAISE THIS AT THEIR REGULAR FRIDAY MEETING WITH THE POLITICAL ADVISER AND SECRETARY GENERAL DUTIES ON 9 DECEMBER. WE PROPOSE TO MAKE THE OBVIOUS POINT THAT THE ATTRIBUTION OF THESE VIEWS TO THE FCO IS A PIECE OF SPECULATION BY THE SCMP, AND TO ADD THAT COTTRELL HAS NO (NO) ACCESS TO PRIVILEGED INFORMATION IN HONG

KONG.

2. CAN YOU SHED ANY LIGHT ON THE LIKELY SOURCE OF MICHAEL JONES' ASSERTION OR GIVE ANY BACKGROUND INFORMATION.

Action Ruken

HADDON-CAVE

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

LIMITED

ED/KO

D/FED

ED/PLANNING STAFF

ED/PUSD

D/HD/PUSD(MR FLOWER)

RESEARCH DEPT(MR WALKER)

LEGAL ADVISER(SIR TAN SINCLAIR)

PS

PS/LADY YOUNG

PSAR LUCE

PS/PUS

SIR J BULLARD

MR GIFFARD

MR DONALD

COPIES TO: (VIA DISTR. ROOM)

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF

COUNCIL

PS/HOME SECRETARY

PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL

PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND

INDUSTRY

COPIES TO:

(VIA ADR)

MR ROBERTS

NEWS DEPT

MF BURROWS LEGAL ADVISERS MR COLES NO 10 DOWNING ST SIR A PARSONS

#t

MR MARTIN ASSESSMENT STAFF

MR GOODALL

CABINET OFFICE CABINET OFFICE

MR WRIGHT

SIR C TICKELL

CONFIDENTIAL

HR BRENNAN

1

PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL

334)