TNAG-1321-FCO40-1727-Future-of-Hong-Kong-opinion-polls-and-surveys-1984 — Page 164

RJT McLaren Esq., CMG, HONG KONG

CONFIDENTIAL

The Gi

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

London SW1A 2AH

18 May 1984

see (24

28

Dear Robin

FUTURE OF HONG KONG PUBLIC OPINION

1..

HICKOGORS

RECEIVED WT

23 MAY 1984

P

• taken

ARB 24/6 CM2415

The Governor left with me after the meeting with Sir P Craddock on 14 May, a copy of an abstract of representations on the future. made by various groups in Hong Kong over a two week period.

2. We would be very grateful if you could prepare similar fortnightly summaries of the debate in Hong Kong on the future for us up until the publication of any agreement. We are treating the period from the Secretary of State's 20 April statement as part of the period of consultation with the people of Hong Kong about the future they wish to see. We are aware of the dangers of provoking unrealistic expectations, but we will have to show that we have canvassed opinion in Hong Kong before the publication of the agreement, if Hong Kong will have to accept it on a "take it or leave it" basis.

3. We intend to submit the summaries to Ministers so that they are in touch with the debate going on in Hong Kong, and I would be grateful if you could send them in telegraph or teleletter form. We already see your excellent press-summary telegrams, so there would be no need to cover the media aspects of the debate.

4. We hope that by keeping a close watch on the debate and in particular the specific proposals for arrangments after 1997 we can remain responsible in the negotiations and be able to guide the debate along constructive lines. I would be very grateful for your advice on how we should seek to do this, whether through speeches by the Governor, by Ministers or through action by UMELCO leaders.

Yours

Dich

R D Clift

Hong Kong Department

cc:

PA B Thomson Peking

CONFIDENTIAL