TNAG-1357-FCO40-1798-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 73

CONFIDENTIAL

3. IN MORE CONCRETE TERMS, FAVOUR AS MUCH CONTACT AS POSSIBLE BETWEEN SENIOR PEOPLE IN HONG KONG AND LU PING DURING THE LATTER'S VISIT TO THE TERRITORY (HE TOLD US TODAY THAT THIS WOULD BE FROM 26 DECEMBER TO 2 FEBRUARY), WITH THE OBJECT BOTH OF DIMINISHING CHINESE SUSPICIONS AND OF ATTEMPTING TO ESTABLISH PARAMETERS OF THEIR THINKING ABOUT THE BASIC LAW (HONG KONG TEL NO 2852). 1 THINK IT WOULD BE USEFUL FOR ME TO INVITE ZHOU NAN TO DINNER SOME TIME IN EARLY JANUARY, WITH THE TWIN PURPOSES OF DOING MORE TO ALLAY THE SUPICIONS OF THE CHINESE, AND OF SEEKING TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY ARE LIVELY TO SAY TO MR RENTON LATER IN THE MONTH. FINALLY, I AM ATTRACTED BY THE IDEA OF MR RENTON'S

J

BRINGING A MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO WU XUEQIAN. THE PURPOSES OF SUCH A MESSAGE WOULD BE TO KNOCK ON THE HEAD SERIATIM CHINESE MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT OUR MOTIVES AND INTENTIONS. WE COULD NOW I BELIEVE DRAW UP A FAIRLY COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF

THESE.

EVANS

HONG KONG AGREEMENT

LIMITED HD/HKD HD/FED

HD/PLANNING STAFF HD/PUSD

DEP HD/PUSD

RES D (MR WALKER)

PS

PS/MR RENTON

PS/FUS

SIR W HARDING

MR WILSON

BIR J FREELAND

MR J CROWLEY FUSD PS/LADY YOUNG

-2-

COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)

MR ROBERTS NEWS DEPT MR FIFOOT LEGAL ADVS MR PEIRCE. ASST STAFF

CABINET OFFICE

MR MALLABY CABINET OFFICE MR DRC CHRISTOPHER

CABINET OFFICE SIR P CRADDOCK NO 10 DOWNING ST. MR WOOD LEGAL ADVISERS

CONFIDENTIAL