TNAG-1473-FCO40-2004-Visits-by-MPs-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 174

TO KUALA LUMPUR.

CONFIDENTIAL

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YOU DON'T I AM SURE, NEED REMINDING OF THE PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD IN THE PAST IN HONG KONG AT THE HANDS OF SOME OF YOUR OFFICIALS (SEMI COLON) I HAD HOPED THAT THE SITUATION HAD CHANGED. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ONE OR TWO JOURNALISTS, I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN GIVEN A MOST FRIENDLY, COURTEOUS AND INTERESTED WELCOME BY THE HONG KONG PRESS CORPS.

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MY RELATIONS WITH BRITISH AIRWAYS ARE FAR TOO IMPORTANT

MY FOR ME TO WANT TO DO ANYTHING TO CAUSE THEM EMBARRASSMENT. FEELINGS, THEREFORE, ABOUT BRITISH AIRWAYS BEING ASKED TO 'WARN

I ME OFF ARE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN UNCHARITABLE AND UNPRINTABLE. REALISE THAT COMMENTS I HAD MADE ABOUT ONE OR TWO PEOPLE IN HONG KONG SEEKING TO STIR UP TROUBLE BETWEEN BRITAIN AND CHINA AND TO UNDERMINE THE BRITISH-CHINESE AGREEMENT ON HONG KONG'S FUTURE MAY WELL HAVE ANNOYED A COUPLE OF JOURNALISTS. FROM MY OWN CONTACTS, HOWEVER, WITH THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S .EPUBLIC, BOTH IN LONDON AND HONG KONG, I HAVE NO DOUBT OF THE TRUTH OF WHAT I HAVE SAID AND I HAVE INDEED PRESENTED WRITTEN EVIDENCE TO THIS EFFECT TO THE FOREIGN OFFICE.

I SHALL SPARE YOU THE EMBARRASSMENT OF MY VISITING HONG KONG THIS TIME, BUT CANNOT PROMISE TO STAY AWAY INDEFINITELY

EXCLAM. ENDS

HOWE

LIMITED

HD/HKD

PS

PS/MR RENTON

PS/PUS

SIR W HARDING

DR WILSON

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CONFIDENTIAL