TNAG-1332-FCO40-1762-Future-of-Hong-Kong-White-Paper-on-the-Joint-Declaration-1984 — Page 142

SECRET

OD 130800Z

SECRET

MIKOUD SO

STRY

SOR&COPY

REGISTRY

Action Taken

11719

56

FROM PEKING 13044OZ SEP 34

RECEIVED

1

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

DEAK OFFICER INDEX

PA

TELEGRAM NUMBER 2301 OF 13/3/84

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

YOUR TEL NU 1154: FUTURE OF HONG KONG: WHITE PAPER

URGING CAUTION OVER

1. 1 OF COURSE AGPEC THAT THE CHINESE SHOULD DE SHUT OUT FROM PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO THE TEXT OF THE WHITE PAPER AND I SEE MERIT IN THE IDEA OF YOUR SENDING A

MESSAGE TO WU (1 ASSUME IN NEW YORK) PUBLIC STATEMENTS BY CHINESE LEADERS ABOUT THE AGREEMENT. HOWEVER, I BELIEVE THAT THE PROPENSITY OF THE CHINESE TO COMMENT ADVERSELY IN PUBLIC ON THE WHITE PAPER WOULD BE REDUCED IF WE COULD SHOW THEM THE TEXT BEFORE IT IS PUBLISHED. I THEREFORE HOPE THAT YOU

CAN CONSIDER INSTRUCTING ME TO HAND OVER TO ZHOU

NAN A COPY OF THE FULL TEXT (THOUGH PRESUMABLY NOT THE

PRINTED DOCUMENT IN FINAL FORM), 24 HOURS

IN ADVANCE OF PUBLICATION, BUT IN DOING THIS TO

MAKE IT CLEAR THAT I WAS PROVIDING THE TEXT AS A COURTESY.

IF THE TIMING WAS RIGHT, I COULD AT THE SAME TIME GIVE

ZHOU A COPY OF YOUR MESSAGE TO #U (ASSUMING THAT YOU DECIDED TO SENO

OKE),

•

AT THAT STAGE IT WOULD BE OBVIOUS TO THE CHINESE

THAT, IF ONLY FOR PRACTICAL REASONS, NO AMENDMENTS

COULD BE ENTERTAINED. THIS WOULD OF COURSE BE IN ADDITION

TO MY GIVING ZHOU HAN A GENERALISED ACCOUNT OF THE CONTENTS

OF THE WHITE PAPER A FEW DAYS EARLIER.

EVANS.

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

HD/PLANNING STAFF

HD/PUSD

DEP HD/PUSD

RESEARCH D (MR WALKER)

LEGAL ADVISERS (SIR J FREELAND) PS

PS/LADY YOUNG

PS/MR LUCE

PS/PUS

SIR W HARDING

SIR C TICKELL

MR GOODALL

MR DEREK THOMAS

MR. BOYD

(REPEATED AS REQUESTED)

COPIES TO:-

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL PS/HOME SECRETARY

PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL

PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE & INDUSTRY

COPIES TO:- (VIA ADR)

MR ROBERTS NEWS DEPT

MR BICKFORD LEGAL ADVISERS

MR FIFOOT LEGAL ADVISERS

MR POWELL NO 10 DOWNING ST.

MR INGHAM NO 10 DOWNING ST.

MR MARTIN ASSESSMENTS STAFF CABINET (

MR CARTLEDGE CABINET OFFICE

MR COLVIN

PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE

CABINET OFFICE

ROOM K195

PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL

SIR P CRADOCK

SIR P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING ST.

SECRET