TNAG-1322-FCO40-1728-Future-of-Hong-Kong-opinion-polls-and-surveys-1984 — Page 194

CONFIDENTIAL

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DD 180100Z HONG KONG

GRS 315

CONFIDENTIAL

DESKBY 180100Z

FM FCO 1717002 OCTOBER 84

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NUMBER 2087 OF 17 OCTOBER

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

FROM GALSWORTHY FOR GOVERNOR

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YOUR TELNO 3237: HONG KONG AGREEMENT: PUBLIC OPINION SURVEY:

UMELCO

1. WE ARE ALARMED AT THE DEVELOPMENT REPORTED IN TUR, ALTHOUGH

WE REALISE THAT YOU HAD NO CONTROL OVER IT. WE FEAR THAT

IRRESPECTIVE OF THE FACT THAT UMELCO ACTED ON THEIR OWN

INITIATIVE AND THAT THEIR VOTE IS NOT WITHIN THE CONTROL OF THE

ADMINISTRATION, THE FACT THAT THEY ARE AMONG THE SPONSORS OF THIS

SURVEY WILL GIVE IT AN OFFICIAL FLAVOUR WHICH IT WOULD NOT

OTHERWISE ACQUIRE. WE SHALL HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE METHODS

WHICH THE SURVEY ORGANISERS USE, OR OF THE QUESTION OR QUESTIONS WHICH THEY PUT, AND THE RELIABILITY OR INDEED

RELEVANCE OF THE OUTCOME IS ANYONE'S GUESS. IT SEEMS LIKELY

THAT IF THE SURVEY REPORT IS PUBLISHED IT WILL HAPPEN IN THE

RUN-UP TO THE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE. SHOULD THE SURVEY REPORT

CONTAIN FINDINGS AT VARIANCE WITH THE OVERALL CONCLUSION OF THE

ASSESSMENT OFFICE, THIS COULD BE VERY TROUBLESOME, AND IF THE REPORT IS ASSOCIATED WITH UMELCO, DETRACT FROM THE SUPPORT WHICH UNOFFICIALS HAVE SO FAR GIVEN TO THE AGREEMENT.

2. WE REALISE THAT THERE IS LITTLE THAT CAN NOW BE DONE ABOUT

THIS. WE INTEND TO DRAW MINISTER'S ATTENTION TO THIS

DEVELOPMENT: IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO KNOW BY 18090OZ IF ANY

OTHER SURVEYS HAVE BEEN COMMISSIONED BY INDEPENDENT

ORGANISATIONS, EG PRESS OR TV.

3. ON THE PUBLIC LINE, WE SHOULD MUCH PREFER YOU NOT TO USE THE LAST PART OF YOUR LINE VIS ''ON SUCH FUNDAMENTALLY

IMPORTANT MATTERS

...

ASCERTAIN THE STATE OF PUBLIC OPINION''

WE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WILL NOT WISH TO GIVE THE IMPRESSION THAT

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CONFIDENTIAL