TNAG-2702-FCO40-3908-Memoirs-of-Sir-Percy-Cradock--diplomat-and-sinologist-1993 — Page 19

DEPARTMENTAL FILE COPY

6 December 1993

Sir Robin Butler GCB CVO CABINET OFFICE

Foreign & Commonwealth Office

London SWIA 2AH

Sir David Gillmore KCMG

$45

The Permanent Under Secretary of State

ин

071 270 2150

NH in

1. Gan Sir J Gles

Mr Hum

My Dear Room,

7/12

2.

Mr Machie

SIR PERCY CRADOCK'S MEMOIRS

1.

Sir Percy Cradock has sent me a copy of his letter of 29 November to you enclosing the revised final chapter of his book on Hong Kong for clearance.

2. We have looked carefully at this text. Using the same criteria as we applied in considering his earlier text, we have identified a number of points at which Sir P Cradock attributes policy or motives to HMG which would be damaging

We in any continuing negotiations with China over Hong Kong. accepted in dealing with his earlier text that we should not

But we believe seek to expunge all criticism of HMG's policy. that we should not leave unchallenged a number of the points in his revised version.

3. As on the last occasion, I propose that John Coles should ask Sir P Cradock to call and should put to him our proposed revisions. I enclose a schedule showing these. I suggest that John Coles should concentrate on securing the deletion of the first priority points. We should not allow Sir P Cradock to get off on the technicality that since our talks with China over electoral arrangements seem to have broken down, that frees him from any duty to avoid endangering future negotiations with China over Hong Kong.

Yous env бий

David Gillmore

bcc: Sir J Coles