TNAG-2172-FCO40-3109-Hong-Kong-Bill-of-Rights-1990 — Page 74

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TELNO 66

OF 08140OZ JANUARY 20

KD241/1

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

2 0 FEB 1990

DESK OFFICER

PA

REGISTRY Action Taken

AND TO IMMEDIATE UKREP JLG HONG KONG

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

COPY DIST >

(14)

174627 MDHOAN 0742

FROM HKD

UKREP JLG TELNO 3, PEKING TELNO 20 AND YOUR TELNOS 72 AND 80: BILL OF RIGHTS

1.

MINISTERS HAVE DECIDED, IN THE LIGHT OF YOUR ADVICE, AND THAT PUBLICATION OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS SHOULD BE POSTPONED UNTIL AFTER THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO HONG KONG.

2"

GRATEFUL, THEREFORE, IF YOU WOULD PROCEED AS OUTLINED IN PARA 4 OF YOUR TELNO 72 (WE ARE ATTRACTED BY THIS DEVICE FOR MINIMISING ACCUSATIONS THAT WE HAD DELIBERATELY DELAYED). IF EXCO AGREE, GRATEFUL ALSO IF GALSWORTHY WOULD ARRANGE A MEETING WITH KE ON 10 JANUARY OR SOON THEREAFTER TO HAND OVER AN ADVANCE COPY OF THE

BILL.

3. THE SUBJECT WILL OF COURSE STILL ARISE DURING THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO HONG KONG. HE IS ANXIOUS TO HAVE A STRONG LINE TO TAKE, ESPECIALLY ON ENTRENCHMENT AND THE POINTS IN THE FINANCIAL TIMES ARTICLE. WE TRUST YOUR DEFENSIVE BRIEF WILL COVER THIS (PLEASE FAX TO MAJOR, NOT STONE, HKD). IN PARTICULAR, THE SECRETARY OF STATE WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS IF POSSIBLE THE ALLEGATION THAT WE HAVE BOWED TO CHINESE PRESSURE ON

ENTRENCHMENT.

4.

HURD

YYYY

THIS IS A COPY

THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN

CLOSED UNDER

FOI EXEMPTION NO... 27 (1)

PAGE

1

CONFIDENTIAL