CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 01080OZ FCO
TELNO 2185
CONFIDENTIAL
HKB 026/20
99
071311
MDHIAN 1852
OF 01063OZ JULY 89
PERSONAL FOR PAUL, HKD FROM GOVERNOR RESIDENT CLERK PLEASE PASS :
SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT: SPEECH
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
YOU MIGHT LIKE A QUICK, REACTION TO THE DRAFT WHICH I HAVE JUST READ MORE DETAILED DISCUSSION CAN FOLLOW AFTER YOUR ARRIVAL.
W
2. THE SPEECH HAS GOT SOME GOOD, PUNCHY POINTS INEVITABLY HOWEVER THE PART IN WHICH EVERYBODY WILL BE INTERESTED IS NATIONALITY.
THE DRAFT SPENDS A GOOD DEAL OF TIME ON THIS. THE MESSAGE IS HEAVILY NEGATIVE AND COMES AT THE END OF THE SPEECH. THERE IS NOT TIME FOR
THE MOOD TO RECOVER BEFORE THE SECRETARY OF STATE ENDS. BETTER TO PUT THIS SECTION HIGHER UP THE SPEECH: TO SPEND LESS TIME ON THE
NEGATIVE MESSAGE, EVEN THOUGH THE ESSENTIAL POINTS CAN STILL BE MADE: AND TO EXPAND AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE ON THE GENERAL FRAME OF WHAT IS NOW BEING LOOKED AT. IF POSSIBLE I RECOMMEND SAYING THAT WHAT IS
BEING LOOKED AT IS AN ARRANGEMENT WHICH WILL GO ACROSS THE BOARD
AND NOT SIMPLY BE LIMITED TO CATEGORIES AS PROPOSED BY THE FAC.
3. YOU COULD MAKE A REFERENCE TO ARTICLE 18 OF THE BASIC LAW AND THE
NEED FOR CHANGES.
4. REFERENCE TO THE FAC REPORT SHOULD BE REDUCED TO A MINIMUM, PARTICULARLY ON NATIONALITY. THE GOSSIP MILL HAS BEEN GRINDING HARD ON THE THESIS THAT THE FAC REPORT WAS RUSHED OUT IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE SECRETARY OF STATE WITH A PLATFORM FROM WHICH TO CONFIRM HMG'S
POSITION AGAINST PROVIDING WIDESPREAD RIGHT OF ABODE. THE TIMING OF THE REPORT, AND THE LOCAL REACTION TO IT, ARE LIKELY TO MAKE THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S TASK EVEN HARDER THAN IT ALREADY WAS. HENCE INTER ALIA, THE SUGGESTION ABOVE ON GOING BEYOND WHAT IS RECOMMENDED BY THE FAC.
5. OTHER POINTS WILL BE DEALT WITH WHEN YOU ARRIVE. WE LOOK FORWARD
TO SEEING YOU.
WILSON
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