TNAG-2701-FCO40-3907-Memoirs-of-Sir-Percy-Cradock--diplomat-and-sinologist-1993 — Page 72

The Rt Hon Christopher Patten

香港總督府

HKB 010/2

RECEIVED IN DÈGISTRY

2 MAY 1003

CONFIDENTIAL

DESK OF

AND STRICTLY PERSONAL

PA

REGISTRY Action Taken

GOVERNMENT HOUSE

HONG KONG

29 April 1993

HK) (ov. dicholt)

In Jhu

Thank you very much for your letter of 28 April.

For you like.

Y.C.

Let me say straight away that I agree with your codswallop thesis. Since I was appointed I have had extremely good support and excellent advice from FCO officials, in London, Hong Kong and Peking. I have been most grateful for the commitment that everyone has shown.

What unfortunately makes a story that the Press want to write look more credible is the attitude taken by one or two former members of the Service. Obviously, Sir Percy Cradock's criticisms have been the most damaging. It seems to me, without wishing to be paranoid, that he has moved from being a critic on the sidelines to striving actively to scupper what we are trying to do. It is in this context that I see his proposed visit to Hong Kong and China. Given that difficult negotiations have started, it is inconceivable that his itinerary will not be seen as more of the secret diplomacy with which his name is associated. The Chinese are likely to be happy to play this up. It will be, at best, embarrassing and, at worst, it will be used to undermine our authority and to make it look as though we are all being sidelined.

and

In the circumstances, I think that, at the very least, he should be approached and asked not to go; that, if this has no effect, it should be made perfectly apparent subsequently that the FCO did ask him not to go.

As for briefing, I cannot now see what good this does. If we have been briefing him up to now it does not seem to have worked to our advantage. Indeed he appears to have gone back on his undertaking to Alastair Goodlad to keep low.