TNAG-1326-FCO40-1738-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-debates-1984 — Page 138

GPS120

CONFIDENTIAL

FUTURE EGRET

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG 28041OZNOV 84

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 3627 OF 28 NOVEMBER

INFO PRIORITY PEKING (PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR)

PERSONAL FOR SIR ? CRADOCK FROM GOVERNOR

FUTURE EGRET: THE THREE TREATIES

TOP COPY

154

HKK

RECEIVED

040/31

REGISTR

2 8 NOV 1984

DESC S-FICER

INDEX

PA

20

1. I HAVE SUGGESTED IN A SEPARATE TELEGRAM A POSSIBLE LINE TO

TAKE IN RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS ON THE TREATIES IN THE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE OR IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S PRESS CONFERENCE.

2. REPORTERS HERE WILL DO THEIR HOMEWORK BEFORE THE PRIME MINISTER'S PRESS CONFERENCE NEXT MONTH AND ARE ONLY TOO LIKELY TO QUOTE SOME OF HER REMARKS ON THE TREATIES IN SEPTEMBER 1982 IN THE HOPE OF PROVOKING A NEWSWORTHY RESPONSE. OUR OWN INTEREST WILL LIE

IN AVOIDING ANY STATEMENTS WHICH MIGHT RESUSCITATE THE ISSUE, BUT WITHOUT APPEARING TO BE TOO DEFENSIVE. THE LINE SUGGESTED IN MY TELVO 3626 WAS DRAFTED WITH THESE CONSIDERATIONS IN MIND. IT IS NO DOUBT CAPABLE OF REFINEMENT: BUT IT WILL BE VERY IMPORTANT TO BE READY WITH A LINE WHICH WILL NOT STIR UP THE

1982 CONTROVERSY AGAIN.

YOUDE

LIMITED HD/HKD HD/FED

MR WILSON

COPIES TO:-

SIR P. CRADOCK

MR FIFOOT LEGAL ADVISERS

LEGAL ADVISERS

MR BURROWS

CONFIDENTIAL