TNAG-2702-FCO40-3908-Memoirs-of-Sir-Percy-Cradock--diplomat-and-sinologist-1993 — Page 263

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(iii) Our concern relates not so much to specific

disclosure of information, but rather to the damage

which could be done by Sir P Cradock's treatment of

these subjects, so soon after leaving a particularly senior and sensitive post in the public service.

3.

Our advice is therefore that you should respond to Sir

P Cradock making the following points:

(a)

(b)

We see no difficulty with the publication of the first

two parts of his manuscript, dealing with

his experiences of China from 1962 to 1984.

We do however consider that his account of dealings

with China over the very recent past concerning the new Hong Kong airport and electoral arrangements in Hong

Kong could be injurious to our continuing negotiations

with the Chinese authorities on these issues.

(c)

4.

We therefore ask him, in the interest of a successful

outcome to our continuing negotiations with the Chinese on these issues, not to publish the passage in pages 198-219 of his manuscript until our negotiations with

the Chinese are concluded. This would in practice mean either excising these passages from the manuscript and publishing the rest now; or holding back publication of the book as a whole probably until early 1995.

As you will see, we are suggesting that you make the case to Sir P Cradock on general political grounds rather than becoming

involved in a detailed textual analysis against the Radcliffe

butler14.5.PSN010.NJH

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