TNAG-2702-FCO40-3908-Memoirs-of-Sir-Percy-Cradock--diplomat-and-sinologist-1993 — Page 237

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Sr J Cales

M Bone, Led

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36.5

(10

-Jacaw Backer APS/PUS PS/Sir D. Gilmore

1€ 21618

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CABINET OFFICE

70 Whitehall, London SW1A 2AS

Telephone 071-270 0101 Facsimile 071-270 0208

From the Secretary of the Cabinet and Head of the Home Civil Service

Sir Robin Butler GCB CVO

Ref:

A093/1728

HKB 010/4

RECE!

INGISTRY

C. JUN 1793

Dear Percy,

IN.

PA

GFCISTR

GRC

pa.

27 May 1993

I have now been able to consider, in conjunction with the Foreign Office, the draft text of your book on China enclosed with your letter of 15 April. I greatly enjoyed reading it.

I see no difficulty with the publication of the first two parts of your manuscript, dealing with your experiences of China from 1962 to 1984. The later passages are however more difficult. The account of the dealings with China concerning the new Hong Kong airport and electoral arrangements in Hong Kong may be injurious to the Government's continuing negotiations with the Chinese authorities. With regard to the airport, the publication of details of exchanges with the Chinese, including the fact of a message from the Prime Minister, would weaken Chinese trust in our willingness to pursue further exchanges on this issue, which is still outstanding, in confidence. As to the electoral arrangements, I am sure you will appreciate that strong criticism of the Governor's proposals by someone of your standing might well weaken our position in the negotiations by leaving the Chinese to think that there are divided views in senior British circles; that British support for the proposals is less than firm; and that, if the Chinese play on these divisions, that support may be broken.

David Gillmore and I therefore jointly ask that, in the interests of a successful outcome to the Government's continuing negotiations with the Chinese on these issues, you should not publish the passages in pages 198 to 219 of your manuscript until the negotiations with the Chinese are concluded. This means either excising these passages and publishing the book now or holding back publication of the book as a whole probably until early 1995.

Yours ever,

Robin

Rt Hon Sir Percy Cradock GCMG

303 Richmond Road

Twickenham

Middlesex TW1 2NP