TNAG-1308-FCO40-1665-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 79

GRS 200

SECRET

FROM PEKING 120732Z MAR 84

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

SECRET

TELEGRAM NUMBER 417 OF 12/3/84

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TOP COPY

NKKO40/1

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

13 MAR 1984

DESK OFFICEN

INDEX

REGISTY

PA

Action Taken

އ

55 2013

174

404 AND

MY TEL

LEGCO DEBATE

NOS(

Ḥkk040/4

(212)

172

FUTURE OF HONG KONG: 405 AND YOU TEL NO 4281 1213

1. THE CHINESE REACTIONS TO THE LEGCO MOTION FOR DEBATE

ON 14 MARCH AND TO OUR INTENTION TO INCLUDE THE AG OR S (GD)

IN FUTURE ROUNDS SUGGEST THAT WE CAN EXPECT A STRONG REACTION

FROM THE CHINESE ONCE THE MOTION HAS BEEN DEBATED. IT SEEMS VERY

LIKELY THAT WE SHALL PUBLICLY BE ACCUSED OF THE THREE-LEGGED

STOOL CONSPIRACY, PERHAPS IN THE FORM OF AN NCNA

COMMENTARY. ZHOU NAN MAY WE ALSO RAISE THIS SUBJECT DURING

THE NEXT ROUND. WE SHALL THEREFORE PREPARE A DEFENSIVE SPEAKING

NOTE.

2. THE SENTENCE SUGGESTED IN TUR FOR INCLUSION IN THE

CHIEF SECRETARY'S STATEMENT COVERS A VALID AND LEGITIMATE POINT.

HOWEVER THE CHINESE MIGHT WELL REACT IN A VERY HOSTILE

FASHION IF IT CAME IN A SPEECH BY AN OFFICIAL. IF UNOFFICIALS,

COULD BE INSPIRED TO INCLUDE IT, THE CHINESE WOULD

FIND IT LESS EASY TO TAKE PUBLIC EXCEPTION TO IT, AND INDEED

LESS EASY TO ANSWER IT.

EVANS

UTURE OF HONG KONG

מה /

D/PLANNING STAFF

3/PUSD

>/ED/PUSD (

PES.B. (MR WALKER)

LEGAL ADVISER (SIR IAN SINCLAIR

PS

PS/LADY YOUNG

PS/ME LUCE

PS/PUS

SER J BULLARD

SER W EAPDING

IR WILSON

AIR WEIGHT

SIR C TICKELT

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

MR BURROWS

NEWS D

LEGAL ADVS

MR COLES NO 10 DOWNING ST

MR. MARTIN ASSESSMENT STAFF CABINET OFFICE

MR GOODALL CABINET OFFICE

MR. BRENNAN CABINET OFFICE

PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE D PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL

SIR ? CRADOCK 21 K195

BIR P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING STREET

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