TNAG-1307-FCO40-1664-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 114

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FUTURE OF HONG KONG:

PS

HB Warren-Gash 3 February 1984

Sir Percy Cradock Mr Donald

Mr Chift HKD

Sir Ian Sinclair News Dept

Mr. Hum

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Mr. Morris $312 RD wearing.

CHINESE RELIABILITY

1. Mr Luce was grateful for your minute of 31 January and attachments, setting out why, despite past experience over Tibet and Shanghai, it is reasonable to suppose that the Chinese would honour any agreement reached on the future of Hong Kong. This was useful. While we might be quite satisfied in our own minds on this point, however, Mr Luce believes that this is an aspect which will require careful presentation if it is to convince Parliament and public opinion. One of the main planks in the argument that Hong Kong will not be another Shanghai, for instance, is that the Communist Chinese were in the first flush of their revolutionary success and enthusiasm at the time they took over Shanghai, and that they have now settled down. But what about the cultural revolution? How do we know it will not recur?

2. In sum, Mr Luce agrees with your arguments, but believes that further thought is required about the public presentation aspect. As a next step, he would therefore be grateful if you could prepare a rather more comprehensive draft 'line to take', (ie headings and sub headings rather than full text) for him to consider in his weekend box.

to Wwwen. Gash.

H B Warren-Gash

PS/Mr Luce

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