GPS 275
SECRET
DESKBY 111000Z
FM HONG KONG 11083OZ NOV 33
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
SEORET
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1713 CF 11 NOVEMBER 1983
HINFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
TOP COPYHKK040/3
CETVED IN MAGISTRY
1 W 1983
DESK OCHIC M
INDEX
(45) YOUR TEL. 1170. FUTURE OF HONG KONG: LETTER FROM SIR PHILIP
GOODHART.
SIR PHILIP GOODHART ALSO WROTE TO THE CHIEF SECRETARY EXPRESSING
PESSIMISM ABOUT REACHING A SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION TO THE NEGOT-
PATIONS IN PEKING. HE ALSO ENCLOSED A COPY OF HIS LETTER TO MR.
CHEUNG. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH THE CHIEF SECRETARY DURING HIS VISHIT
GOODHART DID NOT REFER TO THE SUGGESTION.
2. OUR INITIAL REACTION WAS NOT TO ENQUIRE FROM MR. CHEUNG ABOUT
HAS RESPONSE TO THE SUGGESTION IN THE BELIEF THAT THE BEST THING
TO DO WAS TO LET THE IDEA DIE A NATURAL DEATH. HIN THE LIGHT OF
YOUR TELEGRAM THE SECRETARY (GENERAL DUTIES) HAS SEEN MR. CHEUNG
WHO HAS CONFIRMED THAT HE RECEIVED THE LETTER AND THAT HE HAD SENT
A TEMPORISING REPLY SAYING THAT HE WAS THINKING ABOUT THE IMPLIC-
ATHONS. HE SAID THAT HE ALSO MADE THE POINT THAT THE PROPOSAL FOR
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SUCH A FUND RAISED LEGAL DIFFICULTIES AND IN
ANY CASE WERE BEYOND THE RESOURCES OF THE JOCKEY CLUB. HE ADDED
THAT HE HAD TOLD SIR S.Y. CHUNG OF THE LETTER AND SENT HIM A COPY
OF HIS REPLY. HE ALSO PROMISED DAVES A COPY, BUT IT WILL NOT BE
RECEIVED BEFORE YOUR DEADLINE.
3. THE GENESIS OF THIS PROPOSAL MAY HAVE BEEN AN ARTICLE
ENTITLED QUOTE TO THE RESCUE OF FIVE MILLION UNQUOTE BY
BERNARD LEVIIN IN THE TIMES. THERE HAS ALSO BEEN AN EARL-HER
BUT RELATED SUGGESTION IN AN ARTICLE IN THE ECONOMIC JOURNAL.
IN THAT CASE THE MIDEA WAS PUT FORWARD THAT THE EXCHANGE FUND
MIGHT BE A SOURCE OF FUNDS FOR THE PURCHASE OF LAND OVERSEAS
FOR RESETTLEMENT. THIS ARTICLE HAS NOT GIVEN RISE TO MUCH
COMMENT OR ANY SUPPORT IN THE MEDIA.
4. WE SUGGEST THAT MR LUCE SHOULD POUR COLD WATER ON THE DE A
AS UNREALISTIC.
YOUDE
+
(47
STRY
Ton Taken
See (48
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HKD
FED
PS
PS/MR LUCE
MR GIFFARD MR DONALD
SECRET
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