TNAG-1444-FCO40-1928-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 107

GRS 260

CONFIDENTIAL

FM PEKING

CONFIDENTIAL

TO DESKEY 150245Z HONG KONG

TELNO 207

OF 1501562 OCTOBER 86

INFO DESKSY 15083OZ FCO

HKK out

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

12 NOV 1986

DESK OFFICIN

476

INFO DESKBY 150245Z HMY BRITANNIA INDEX

PA

Action Taker

HMY BRITANNJA (SHANGHAI) FOR PRIVATE SECRETARY.

FROM WILSON:

POSSIBLE STATEMENT BY SECRETARY OF STATE IN HONG KONG:

1987 REVIEW.

1. IN LIGHT OF HIS HONG KONG PRESS CONFERENCE, THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS BEEN CONSIDERING WHETHER HE OUGHT TO SAY SOMETHING FURTHER

ABOUT THE 1987 REVIEW WHEN PASSING THROUGH HONG KONG OPN SUNDAY 19

OCTOBER. YOU WILL SEE THAT HE TRAILED THIS POSSIBILITY WITH WU

(PEKING .TELNO 1991, PARA 13).

2. THE SECRETARY OF STATE WILL, IN ANY CASE, WISH TO SAY SOMETHING TO THE PRESS, EITHER ON ARRIVAL OR DEPARTURE FROM KALTAK, AS HE DID ON ARRIVAL FROM LONDON. THE QUESTNOIN IS WHETHER IT WOULD BE HELPFUL LOCALLY IN HONG KONG, TO REFER TO THE 1987 REVIEW AND, MF SO, WHETHER THIS CAN BE DONE IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE DO NOT PRODUCE A DAMAGING ADVERSE CHINESE REACTION. THERE IS ALSO THE ADDITIONAL QUESTION OF WHETHER SUCH A STATEMENT OUGHT TO BE MADE ON ARRIVAL (WHICH WOULD BE MORE NATURAL), OR ON DEPARTURE (WHICH WOULD HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OF PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO YOU FIRST). THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS INCLINED TO FAVOUR THE FORMER. MJFT CONTAINS THE DRAFT OF A POSSIBLE STATEMENT. THE IDEA MS THAT AT WILL BE USED INFORMALLY IN FRONT OF THE USUAL GATHERING OF WALTUNG PHOTOGRAPHERS, RATHER THAN READ OUT FROM A PHECE OF PAPER.

3. THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS NOT YET SEEN THE DRAFT. HE WILL NEED YOUR ADVICE, BOTH ON CONTENT AND TIMING. WE MUST GET THIS ADVICE TO CANTON ON SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER AT THE LATEST. WE CAN DISCUSS FURTHER WHEN I REACH HONG KONG TOMORROW. MEANWHILE, IF YOU, OR THE FCO, HAVE ANY IMMEDIATE REACTIONS, THESE COULD REACH THE SECRETARY OF STATE VIA BRITANNA IN SHANGHAM BEFORE 2300 (LOCAL) TODAY.

EVANS

PEHPAN 0541

LIMITED

HKD

FED

NEWS.D

PLANNING STAFF

}.

PS

PS/ MR. RENTON

PS/ PUS

MR. GILLMORE MR. WILSON

CONFIDENTIAL