TNAG-2702-FCO40-3908-Memoirs-of-Sir-Percy-Cradock--diplomat-and-sinologist-1993 — Page 130

CONFIDENTIAL

Sir P Cradock: Noted these points.

Chapter 24

P1

- Paragraph 1 "and from Oct 1992 it was for a time abandoned". Again the assertion that we abandoned a policy of negotiation and cooperation is factually incorrect.

Sir P Cradock: Noted.

Factually

- "A military response was considered and dismissed". incorrect. No serious consideration was given to military intervention.

Sir P Cradock: Noted. But maintained that Mrs Thatcher repeatedly sought advice on the option of "standing firm". His text was shorthand for this, but represented the facts.

P2

- Paragraph 2 "they were in a position to dictate." The arguments which Sir P Cradock deploys in this para suggest that this phrase should be amended to read "they appeared to be (or "were ostensibly") in a position to dictate".

Sir P Cradock:

P7

Rejected this amendment.

- Paragraph 2 "and in Oct 1992, probably more by error than intent, Britain and Hong Kong embarked on just such a course". Not so. (See P1 above).

Sir P Cradock: Noted.

P8

if need

"An attempt to seize a further degree of democracy be in disregard of their understanding of the political settlement that had been reached over the Territory". Tendentious, and factually incorrect. Implies either that the Chinese understanding of the settlement was valid, or (worse) that we would disregard the Joint Declaration.

"In an effort to make up for what some saw as the too flexible approach of British negotiators in the preceding decade." Not so. Ascribes a motivation to the Governor which Sir P Cradock is in no position to know.

The use of "final arbiter" to describe the proposed role of LegCo here is factually incorrect. It has all along been the constitutional role of LegCo to pass the necessary electoral legislation: nothing here has changed. But the Governor has the constitutional power to overrule if required. It would be quite

jm.lett.JM

SLM

CONFIDENTIAL