TNAG-1295-FCO40-1650-Visits-by-members-of-the-Office-of-the-Unofficial-Members-of-1984 — Page 116

GRS 200

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

НЕК RECEIVED IN ROOT i 1 JUL 1984

026/11

DESKBY 10083OZ

FM HONG KONG 100705Z JUL 84

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

CSP

TELEGRAM NUMBER 1882 OF 10 JULY

INDEX

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

SAL

URY

YOUR TELNO 727: FUTURE OF HONG KONG : CORRESPONDENCE FROM MR

ROBERT ADLEY, MP

WE SUGGEST THAT THE PROPOSED REPLY IN PARA 2 OF YOUR TUR SHOULD BE STRENGTHENED TO READ AS FOLLOWS

-

''THANK YOU FOR YOUR LETTER OF 3 JULY ENCLOSING A LETTER FROM MRS

ELSIE ELLIOTT OF HONG KONG. I CANNOT AGREE WITH YOUR OR MRS ELLIOTT'S CRITICISMS OF SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF UMELCO. I BELIEVE THAT THEY PERFORM THEIR VERY DIFFICULT ROLE WITH A STRONG SENSE OF DUTY. THEY ARE CONSCIENTIOUS PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE INTERESTS OF HONG KONG VERY MUCH AT HEART. THOSE MEMBERS OF UMELCO WHO ARE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE CONSULTED REGULARLY BY THE GOVERNOR ON THE TALKS BOTH ON HIS OWN INITIATIVE AND AT THE REQUEST OF MINISTERS. I HAVE MYSELF MET THEM HERE AND IN HONG KONG. NOTHING THAT HAS TRANSPIRED LENDS ANY WEIGHT WHATSOEVER TO SUPPORT MRS ELLIOTT'S ALLEGATIONS. I CANNOT THEREFORE ACCEPT THAT THEY WOULD WISH TO SABOTAGE OR FRUSTRATE THE TALKS IN ANY WAY. NOR CAN I ACCEPT THE SIMILAR ALLEGATIONS DIRECTED BY MRS ELLIOTT AGAINST A SENIOR OFFICIAL

OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT.'

11

BRAY

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

HD/PLANNING STAFF

HD/PUSD

DEP HD/PUSD

RESEARCH D (MR WALKER)

LEGAL ADVISERS (SIR J FREELAND) PS

PS/LADY YOUNG

PS/MR LUCE

PS/PUS

SIR W HARDING

SIR C TICKELL MR GOODALL

COPIES TO:-

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL PS/HOME SECRETARY

PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL

PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE & INDUSTRY

COPIES TO:- (VIA ADR)

MR ROBERTS NEWS DEPT

MR BURROWS LEGAL ADVISERS MR FIFOOT LEGAL ADVISERS MR POWELL NO 10 DOWNING ST.

MR INGHAM NO 10 DOWNING ST.

MR MARTIN ASSESSMENTS STAFF CABINET OFFI

MR CARTLEDGE CABINET OFFICE

MR BRENNAN

CABINET OFFICE

PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE

PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL

SIR P CRADOCK ROOM K195

SIR P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING ST.

CONFIDENTIAL

109