TNAG-1330-FCO40-1757-Future-of-Hong-Kong-test-of-the-acceptability-of-the-Joint-D-1984 — Page 149

GRS 125

MKK 040/46

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

150GT 1984

--CONFIDENTI,

DESK OFFICER

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CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO 121800Z OCT 84

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NUMBER 2063 OF 12 OCTOBER

YOUR TELNO 3190 AND OUR TELNO 2058: TEST OF ACCEPTABILITY:

ASSESSMENT OFFICE

1.

SECRETARY OF STATE HAS NOW AGREED WITH THE LINE IN OUR

TELNO 2051. THE WAY IS THEREFORE NOW CLEAR FOR YOU TO ANNOUNCE, IN THE DEBATE NEXT WEEK IF YOU THINK THIS BEST, THAT IN VIEW OF ANXIETIES WHICH HAVE BEEN EXPRESSED, IT HAS BEEN DECIDED THAT SUBMISSIONS TO THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE, OTHER THAN THE MAIN

SUBMISSIONS ANNEXED TO THE WILL BE RETAINED IN HONG KONG UNTIL AFTER

RATIFICATION AND THEN DESTROYED.

2. SECRETARY OF STATE HAS POINTED OUT THAT IN DEFENCE OF THIS

IT COULD BE ARGUED THAT DESTRUCTION OF THE SUBMISSIONS IS

IN SOME WAYS AKIN TO THE DESTRUCTION OF BALLOT PAPERS.

HOWE

HONG KONG AGREEMENT

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

HD/PLANNING STAFF

HD/PUSD

DEP HD/PUSD

RESEARCH DEPT (MR WALKER) PS

PS/MR LUCE

PS/PUS

SIR W HARDING

MR WILSON

SIR J FREELAND HO/PUSD me BOYD

COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)

MR ROBERTS, NEWS DEPT

MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS MR BURROWS, LEGAL ADVISERS

MR MARTIN, ASST STAFF CABINET

OFFICE

MR CARTLEDGE, CABINET OFFICE MR COLVIN, CABINET OFFICE

SIR P CRADOCK, NO 10 DOWNING ST SIR P CRADOCK, ROOM K195

1

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