File
BY FAX
25 September 1991
Pa
The Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Howe,
QC, MP
c/o R Hoare Esq
Government House HONG KONG
Dear Sir Geoffrey,
Sir G Hove vizit file
DIEU
سلام
Wasta.
Foreign & Commonwealth
Office
London SWIA 2AH
Telephone: 071-
HKD 026/12
Arabella kindly sent Tony Galsworthy and me copies of the speech you will be giving in Hong Kong on 26 September.
ि
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Tony and I have both been carefully through the Hong Kong parts of it. We both think that it is a first-rate presentation of the argument. As I think Tony has said to you, it will not be universally popular in Hong Kong. But we are sure that it is the right message, and very much in line with what the Prime Minister and Mr Hurd have been saying in recent weeks.
We only have two minor suggestions to offer, if there is still time to modify the text:
- On page 2 Hong Kong is actually the world's second entrepot port (behind Rotterdam). It is however the world's largest
container port.
- On page 9, I thought that your middle paragraph verged on the Panglossian, given Chinese neuralgia to direct elections. I suggest that you might say in the first line of the middle paragraph: "I believe that this would be a most positive outcome of the first round of direct elections ...". The second sentence could be amended on the following lines: "If all concerned are prepared to work on these lines within the terms of the Joint Declaration, then the basis will be laid for further progress towards direct elections, and for that progress to be sustained in the years beyond 1997".
We hope that the speech goes well and hope that it gets plenty of coverage in the press.
Your
PF Ricketts
Sincerel
Pelés Rickett
Hong Kong Department
BODAFC
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