RESTRICTED
FM PEKING
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 157
OF 06083OZ NOVEMBER 92
INFO IMMEDIATE FCO
RESTRICTED
93
036460
MAR 02/7
MDHIAN 7110
PERSONAL FOR POLITICAL ADVISER AND INFORMATION COORDINATOR FCO PERSONAL FOR RICKETTS, HKD
нив azla
(90
HONG KONG TELNO 94 TO ME: SUNDAY TIMES ARTICLE
1. I SPOKE TO GITTINGS ON THE TELEPHONE THIS MORNING (6 NOVEMBER). I SAID I WAS NOT IN THE HABIT OF SENDING PANIC STRICKEN TELEGRAMS ADVOCATING CLIMBDOWNS AND THAT I HAD SENT NO TELEGRAMS AFTER THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT HERE WHICH COULD POSSIBLY BE CHARACTERISED IN THAT WAY. MY JOB WAS TO PROMOTE THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S POLICIES. BRITISH MINISTERS HAD MADE IT CRYSTAL CLEAR THAT THEY FULLY SUPPORTED THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS ON CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT. THAT WAS WHAT I HAD DONE AND WAS
DOING.
2.
GITTINGS PRESSED ME SEVERAL TIMES TO DISCLOSE EXACTLY WHAT ADVICE I HAD GIVEN FOLLOWING THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT. I DECLINED TO DO SO BUT REPEATED THAT I HAD SENT NO TELEGRAM WHICH ANSWERED TO THE DESCRIPTION IN THE SUNDAY TIMES PIECE.
3. WE WILL SEE WHAT GITTINGS WRITES. NO DOUBT HE WILL QUOTE SELECTIVELY BUT IT WAS PROBABLY BETTER TO HAVE TALKED TO HIM THAN TO HAVE REFUSED TO DO SO.
MCLAREN
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