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the short term to agree
to the proposed endorsement simply to
lower the temperature; but we cannot ask Ministers to endorse a
course of action which would in the future cause real
difficulties for travellers, and lay Ministers open to
accusations of having
of having willingly misled them. The argument is fully set out in the draft telegram.
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8 JAN 1986
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Привода
A M Layden
3 January 1986
1.
Kong.
Hong Kong Department
This is going to be very difficult to handle. Nationality matters are a highly emotional subject in Hong The Governor has emphasised the risks in a personal telegram (Hong Kong telno 19). In addition, a circular letter sent by Miss Lydia Dunn on behalf of UMELCO to Members of Parliament has been well drafted and is likely to arouse a good deal of interest amongst MPs when it reaches them on about 6 January.
2.
It
The Home Office arguments against putting in an endorsement about no requirement for visas or entry certifi-
cates seem to me to be well based. Such an endorsement, although factually accurate, would be highly misleading. would store up trouble and accusations of bad faith for the
future. As I see it, this means that the endorsement as proposed by Hong Kong, and strongly advocated by the Governor, cannot be agreed. We should however continue to see whether there is an alternative which could go some way towards meeting Hong Kong's psychological and symbolic needs without implying a falsehood. The draft telegram suggests two. I fear though that EXCO's preliminary reaction to both will be negative.
3.
I recommend that the Minister go over the whole problem with Mr Galsworthy on Monday before deciding whether to
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