TNAG-2702-FCO40-3908-Memoirs-of-Sir-Percy-Cradock--diplomat-and-sinologist-1993 — Page 248

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HABO10/4

PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

REGISTRY

FROM:

PF Ricketts

JUT

Hong Kong Department

RESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

REGISTRY

Action Taken

DATE:

10 May 1993

CC:

ск CRA "s

Mr Bone, LRD

Miss Brooks, Legal Advisers Mr Walton, Legal Advisers Mr Fry, FED

Mr

Hym Mali

PS/PUS

SIR PERCY CRADOCK'S MEMOIRS

1.

Sir Robin Butler has written to the PUS asking for the FCO's advice on whether any objection should be made to Sir P Cradock publishing his memoirs. Two questions arise:

The substance of advice we should put to Sir R Butler.

The handling of the Governor.

2.

The following advice reflects discussion with LRD and the experts concerned in the Legal Advisers, and has been agreed with them.

3.

But

The criteria against which we need to consider Sir P Cradock's memoirs are set out in the minute of 11 February 1993 from Lord Wakeham to the Prime Minister. This indicates that the Radcliffe rules (summary also attached) continue to apply as regards matters which give rise to national security or international relations concerns. Lord Wakeham's minute records an evolution in the application of the Radcliffe rules in respect of information in memoirs bearing on confidential relationships within Government. The test is now whether material would be destructive of confidential relationships, particularly on matters affecting Ministers and officials still in office, and particularly whether disclosures would damage Ministers and officials in their

work.

4.

. I have read Sir P Cradock's manuscript. As one would expect, it is a vivid and bracing account of his experiences in China since 1962. I consider that the first 95% of the manuscript poses no problem. There is a long section on the Joint Declaration negotiations which would be the fullest published account by an insider. But much has already been published about these negotiations (most recently in the book by Robert Cottrell). As far as I can judge, Sir P Cradock's account is accurate. If we wished

PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

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