TNAG-2119-FCO40-3025-Future-of-Hong-Kong-general-1990 — Page 100

MAK ROBERTI

120

GROUND FLOOR, 26 WONG MA KOK ROAD, STANLEY, HONG KONG. TEL: (852) 813-8275 FAX: (852) 813-8219

RECEIV

12 FEB 1991

December 1, 1990

Mr Payer, HF.)

Since we'r advising

Mr. Robin McLaren

a

152 1 oker people

Deputy Secretary of State

c/o Foreign and Commonwealth Office, SW1A 2AH, England

now to

agree

I see

to witerment reason why

Dear Mr. McLaren:

119

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Cle

ний

M

me.

Thank you for your letter of November 22.

I am pleased that you will be able to see me during my trip to London. As you suggest, I will contact your Personal Assistant in January to fix an appointment.

I understand that the Foreign Secretary will be unable to see me. However, I hope that I will still be able to interview Mr. Alan Paul.

I realize that all of those involved with Hong Kong are intimately familiar with all the information relating to the transition. But I'm sure you can imagine that with a book like mine, where most of the hard information is confidential, one must depend very heavily on impressions, interpretations and insights provided by those on the spot.

I would like to discuss with you events that occurred while you were based in Hong Kong. Mr. Paul, as head of the Hong Kong Department, has been based in London and can provide a different slant on the story (Parliamentary pressure, domestic interest, how the British newspapers have handled with the story, etc.).

During the past year I have found that the more people one sees, the more balanced one's view becomes. I do not feel an interview with Mr. Paul would be repetitive or a waste of his time. Perhaps you can discuss this with him and determine if each of you can spare an hour for an

interview.

Thank you for your cooperation. I look forward to meeting you.

Yours sincerely,

oberti

Mark Roberti

Mr. McLarou

Chare

either way.

me to see hun.

I don't mind Perhaps better for

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