TNAG-2717-FCO40-3923-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1993 — Page 92

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CONFIDENTIAL

FROM:

PF Ricketts

DATE:

STF

CC:

Mr Hum

PS/Mr Goodlad

Private Secretary

Hong Kong Department

7 December 1993

Sir J Coles

Mr Fry, FED

Mr Larner, News Dept

138B

HONG KONG: ARTICLE BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE

Problem

1.

The Governor is keen to arrange for some event which will counter-balance what he expects to be adverse

publicity in the Hong Kong press on 9 December following the appearance by Sir P Cradock, Sir A Donald and Sir R Evans

before the FAC on 8 December.

Recommendation

2.

(a) That the Secretary of State should approve the attached draft article, to be published in the South China Morning Post and in a Chinese language newspaper on Thursday

9 December.

We would need the Secretary of State's clearance by the morning of 8 December to meet this deadline.

(b) That Ministers should also agree a contingency press line for use if Sir A Donald claims that he was authorised to go further in reaching understandings with the Chinese authorities in 1990 than the published exchanges

indicate.

CONFIDENTIAL