TNAG-1253-FCO40-1586-Third-countries-and-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 90

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AGREED, AND ANY PROPOSALS FOR FURTHER ACTION TO PREVENT ANY MORE

UNHELPFUL AUSTRALIAN COMMENTARY ON HONG KONG. AFTER A PRIVATE

CALL ON THE PRIME MINISTER ON 4 JULY (BEFORE REPORTS OF HAYDEN'S

REMARKS REACHED LONDON) MR MALCOLM FRASER WARNED OF THE DANGERS

OF AUSTRALIAN MINISTERS MAKING UNHELPFUL REMARKS IN SUPPORT OF

CHINA'S CLAIM OF SOVEREIGNTY OVER HONG KONG. IF THEY DID SO, HE

THOUGHT THEY WOULD BE ACTING MORE OUT OF IGNORANCE THAN WITH ANY

DESIRE TO MAKE OUR TASK MORE DIFFICULT. HE BELIEVED IT WOULD BE

WORTHWHILE TO EXPRESS TO SIR G YEEND OUR HOPE THAT AUSTRALIAN

MINISTERS SHOULD BE VERY CAREFUL IN ANYTHING THEY SAID PUBLICLY

ABOUT CHINA AND HONG KONG. YOU HAVE DISCRETION TO TAKE ADDITIONAL

ACTION WITH YEEND ON THESE LINES IF YOU SEE MERIT IN MR FRASER'S

SUGGESTIONS.

HOWE

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

LIMITED

HD/HKD

COPIES TO:

HD/FED

MR BURROWS

HD/PLANNING STAFF

MR MARTIN

ED/PUSD

PS

MR FLOWER

PS/LADY YOUNG

PS/MR LUCE

PS/PUS

SIR J BULLARD

MR GIFFARD

MR COLES

SIR I SINCLAIR LEGAL ADVISER

LEGAL ADVISERS

ASSESSMENTS STAFF CABINET OFFICE

PUSD

NO 10 DOWNING ST

SIR A PARSONS

11

??

MR WALKER, RESEARCH DEPT

MR ROBERTS NEWS D

MR DONALD

MR WRIGHT

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