TNAG-1267-FCO40-1616-Economic-situation-in-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 308

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FROM RESPONDING TO THE RISING PUBLIC DEMAND FOR INFORMATION ON

WHAT IS GOING ON, WITH CONSEQUENT ACCUSATIONS OF PASSIVITY, LACK OF LEADERSHIP AND SO ON. THIS HAS TO BE TOLERATED IN THE SHORT

TERM BUT UNLESS THERE IS SOMETHING TO SHOW FOR THE PATIENCE WE HAVE ENJOINED ON THE PUBLIC, THE POINT WILL BE REACHED AT WHICH THE CREDIBILITY OF THE ADMINISTRATION WILL BE CALLED IN QUESTION. 6. IN SHORT, EVERYONE IS NOW LOOKING FOR PROGRESS OR AT LEAST SIGNS OF GREATER ACTIVITY THAN OVER THE PAST NINE MONTHS. IF THE CURRENT DISCUSSIONS IN PEKING LEAD TO AN EARLY START OF SUBSTANTIVE TALKS AND I ATTEND, THIS WILL BE INTERPRETED AS EVIDENCE THAT THE LOG JAM HAS BEEN BROKEN. PROVIDED THE ACCOMPANYING ATMOSPHERICS ARE RIGHT THE EFFECT ON CONFIDENCE SHOULD BE FAVOURABLE BUT CONTINUING EVIDENCE OF PROGRESS WILL BE REQUIRED AND IF NOTHING MUCH IS SEEN TO BE HAPPENING THE GLOOM IS LIKELY TO DEEPEN. THE NEXT SIX MONTHS ARE THEREFORE LIKELY TO BE CRUCIAL FOR THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG. HMG'S CONTINUING COMMITMENT TO THE TERRITORY WILL BE VERY IMPORTANT AND PEOPLE HERE WILL BE LOOKING FOR EVIDENCE THAT THEIR FUTURE REMAINS HIGH ON THE AGENDA OF MINISTERS IN LONDON.

YOUDE

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

Ɑ H/G

FD/YED

PLAKNING STAFF

ED/PUSD

PS

PS/2 HURD

PS/LOED BELSTEAD

PS/FUS

SIER J BULLARD

MR GIFTARD

MR DONALD MRWRIGHT

THIS TELEGRAM

· WAS NOT ADVANCED

-2.

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COPIES TO

SIR I SINCLAIR LEGAL ADVISER MR BURROWS LEGAL ADVISERS

MR ROBERTS NEWS D

MR MARTIN

MR FLOWER

ASSESSMENTS STAFF

CABINET OFFICE

PUSD

MR COLES NO 10 DOWNING ST. SIR A PARSONS

NO ID DOWNING 57.

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