TNAG-1324-FCO40-1736-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-debates-1984 — Page 159

SECRET

19

?

OO PEKING

GRS 244

SECRET

FM FCO 151600Z MAR 84

TO IMMEDIATE PEKING

TELEGRAM NUMBER 227 OF 15 MARCH

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

FOLLOWING FOR AMBASSADOR AND GOVERNOR

6433 1

MKKо40/31

RECEIVED INSI¿GISTRY

DESK OFFICEA

INDEX

STRY

PA

Ammon Taken

Стев

OUR TELNO 655 TO HONG KONG: FUTURE OF HONG KONG: PARLIAMENTARY

STATEMENTS

1.

THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS DEBATE HAS NOW BEEN MOVED FORWARD TO

22 MARCH. WE HAVE BEEN ASKED TO SUBMIT TOMORROW THE FIRST DRAFT

OF A PASSAGE ON HONG KONG FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S STATEMENT. 20 MIFT CONTAINS A TEXT (WHICH THE SECRETARY OF STATE EARLIER

APPROVED IN OUTLINE).

2.

WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR ANY COMMENTS DESKBY 161000Z. WE

REALISE THAT THE GOVERNOR MAY WISH TO SHOW THE TEXT TO EXCO ON

HIS RETURN TO HONG KONG. WE HOPE THAT HE WILL FEEL ABLE TO

ARGUE AGAINST ANY DISPOSITION ON THE PART OF EXCO TO CLAIM THAT

A STATEMENT ON THESE LINES WOULD PRE-EMPT THE EXERCISE OF OPEN

QUOTES LIFTING THE VEIL CLOSE QUOTES TO BE INITIATED IN HONG KONG

DURING THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT.

3. IN OUR VIEW THIS WOULD NOT BE THE CASE. THE STATEMENT GOES

ONLY A VERY LITTLE WAY BEYOND WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN SAID IN

PARLIAMENT AND ELSEWHERE. IN ANY CASE, GIVEN THAT AN IMPORTANT

FOREIGN AFFAIRS DEBATE IS TAKING PLACE, WE MUST AVOID LATER

CRITICISM IN PARLIAMENT THAT NO INKLING WAS GIVEN TO THEM

OF THE DIRECTION IN WHICH MATTERS ARE MOVING.

IT IS RELEVANT IN THIS CONNECTION THAT THE SUBSEQUENT STATEMENT

IN HONG KONG WOULD BE MADE WHILE PARLIAMENT IS IN RECESS,

AND THAT PARLIAMENTARY OPINION COULD THEN ALREADY BE A LITTLE

SENSITIVE ON THIS SCORE.

see ༢༧༢ 20

HOWE

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

PLANNING STAFF

ED/PUSD

D/ED/PUSD

PES.B. (MR FALKER)

LEGAL ADVISER (SIR IAN SINCLAIR FS

PS/LADY YOUNG

PSA LUCE

PS/PUS

SIR J BULLARD

SIR W HARDING

YR WILSON

AR WRIGHT SIF C TICKETT,

COPTES TO:

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCILL

PS/HOME SECRETARY

PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXOSIDQUER

PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL

PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE & INDUSTRY

COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)

MR ROBERTS KEYS D'

HR BURROWS LEGAL ADVS

MR COLES NO 10 DOWNING ST

MR MÄRTION ASSESSMENT STAFF CABINET OFFICE

MR GOODALL

CABINET OFFICE

MR BRENNAN CABINET OFFICE

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

SIR ? CRADOCK BY K195

P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING STREET

SEORET