TNAG-1264-FCO40-1610-Future-of-Hong-Kong-confidence-in-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 9

16.

SECRET

UNOFFICIALS ARE CRITICAL OF OUR RELUCTANCE TO REFUTE STATEMENTS BY LOCAL COMMUNIST SPOKESMEN SUGGESTING THAT BRITAIN HAS GIVEN UP SOVEREIGNTY AND ADMINISTRATION, ARE DISTURBED BY SUGGESTIONS OF MASS RESETTLEMENT AND ARE OCCASIONALLY DISPOSED TO SEE SUBSTANCE IN CHINESE ACCUSATIONS THAT BRITAIN'S INTEREST IN HONG KONG IS FINANCIAL.

17. FOR THE REST, THE ACTIVISTS WHOSE NAMES APPEAR IN THE PAPERS ARE NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENTATIVE. FOR EVERY PERSON WHO IS PREPARED TO BE QUOTED IN PUBLIC, THERE ARE MANY THOUSANDS. WHO PREFER TO KEEP THEIR HEADS DOWN WHO ARE FEARFUL OF VICTIMISATION AND AWAIT THE OUTCOME OF THE TALKS WITHOUT ANY VERY GREAT EXPECT- ATION OF CLEAR SUCCESS. THE COMMENTATORS WHO ARE REGULARLY QUOTED ALL ACCEPT, AND IN SOME CASES EMBRACE, THE CHINESE PREMISE. THEY DO NOT ANALYSE THE PROBLEMS FACING HONG KONG VERY PROFOUNDLY. THE PEOPLE WHO COUNT TEND TO SHOW THEIR VIEWS BY WHAT THEY DO (EG.NOT REINVESTING, STAYING AS LIQUID AS POSSIBLE) RATHER THAN BY WHAT THEY SAY.

18. OPINION POLLS.

WE HAVE NOTHING FURTHER TO ADD TO THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN DAVIES' LETTER S(GD) 4/02 OF 8 NOVEMBER TO MORRIS.

19. THERE HAS BEEN GROWING LOCAL INTEREST IN PQS, SUPPLEMENTARIES AND MEDIA RÉPORTS IN UK. WE ASSUME THAT YOU WILL MAKE AN ASSESS- MENT OF THE APPARENT INCREASE IN INTEREST IN PARLIAMENT AND THE UK MEDIA ON THE FUTURE AND APPRISE US OF THE RESULTS.

HADDON-CAVE

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

LIMITED

HD/HKO

FID/FEND

HD/PLANNING STAFF

ED/PUSD

D/HD/PUSD(MR FLOWER)

RESEARCH DEPT(MR WALKER)

LEGAL ADVISER(SIR IAN SINCLAIR)

PS

PS/LADY YOUNG

PSAR LUCE

COPIES TO: (VIA DISTR. ROOM)

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE 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

SECRET

MR BURROWS LEGAL ADVISERS

MR COLES NO 10 DOWNING ST

SIR A PARSONS

"

糟

MR MARTIN ASSESSMENT STAFF

CABINET OFFICE

MR GOODALL CABINET OFFICE MRBRENNAN

PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL

PS/PUS

SIR J BULLARD

MR GIFFARD

MR DONALD

MR WRIGHT

SIR C TICKELL

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