TNAG-1308-FCO40-1665-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 110

CODE 18-77

Mr Christopher

WED

cc Mr Richards, ECD (E)

Mr Illman, CCD

Mr Synnott, SED

Mr Hum, HKD

Mr Crabbie, Defence Dept

Mr Nixon, NENAD

Reference.

*IKK040/1

156)

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LUISTNY

Adiah

دان

10/3

CHATHAM HOUSE: RESEARCH STUDIES

1. Please refer to the attached letter from Miss Pearce concerning possible subjects for research by the Policy Studies Unit of Chatham House to be funded in whole or in part by the FCO.

2. We need to narrow the list of subjects down to two. I would therefore be grateful for views on the likely value of research on each subject, both in terms of contributing to the FCO's understanding of the subject and in terms of having it aired publicly in Chatham House publications.

3. In summary, initial reactions in Planning Staff are:-

(a) Micro-states - already done in FCO. David Davies

Memorial Institute and Commonwealth Secretariat also conducting studies.

(b) Hong Kong - at best premature. A study now would

either be ill-informed and of little value or well- informed and potentially embarrassing.

(c) Peripheral Countries of Western Europe would a

study get us anywhere?

(d) The Commonwealth conclusions likely to be negative

and therefore embarrassing. Already studied in the FCO.

(e) The Two Germanies - a strong candidate. Relevance to

policy on East/West and West/West. Potential operational value.

(f) Turkey - another strong candidate, with relevance to

NATO cohesion and West/West relations.

/(g)

see

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