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TAINTED' TERMS WOULD HAVE TO BE REMOVED FROM LEGISLATION.
7. THERE WERE SIGNS THAT THE CHINESE STILL SEE THE ROAD TO
FURTHER PROGRESS IN THE TALKS IN TERMS OF AGREEMENT ON PRINCIPLES
RATHER THAN SUBSTANTIVE DISCUSSION OF DETAILS AND PRACTICALITIES.
WE STRESSED THE NEED TO TACKLE DETAILS IF:
(A) CONFIDENCE AND CONTINUITY IN HONG KONG WERE TO BE SUSTAINED
IN THE LONG TERM:
(B) WE, AND SUBSEQUENTLY PARLIAMENT, WERE TO FORM A CONSIDERED
VIEW OF THE OVERALL PACKAGE OF CHINESE PROPOSALS:
(C) BOTH SIDES WERE TO REACH ARRANGEMENTS FOR HONG KONG WHICH
WOULD FULFILL THE AGREED COMMON AIM OF THE TALKS.
8.
ALTHOUGH THE CHINESE SHOWED LIMITED UNDERSTANDING OF OUR
ARGUMENTS, WE MANAGED TO PUT OVER A FAIR AMOUNT OF DETAILED
MATERIAL AND TO PRESS THE CASE FOR PRAGMATIC CONSIDERATION OF
SPECIFIC AREAS OF ADMINISTRATION. WE MADE A MAJOR EFFORT TO
DISPEL THE EVIDENT CHINESE DOUBTS ABOUT OUR MOTIVES. WE
REITERATED THAT WE ARE SINCERELY PREPARED TO EXAMINE WHETHER
ARRANGEMENTS TO ENSURE HONG KONG'S STABILITY AND PROSPERITY COULD
BE BUILT ON THE CHINESE PLAN FOR HONG KONG. OUR PROPOSAL TO
PROCEED ON THIS BASIS INVOLVED NO (NO) ASPIRATIONS TO SEEK
CO-ADMINISTRATION OF THE TERRITORY.
HOWE
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
LIMITED
EID/HKD
ED/FED
COPIES TO: (VIA DISTR. ROOM)
SIR PHILIP MOORE BUCKINGHAM PALACE PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL
PS/HOME SECRETARY
PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER
PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL
PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND
ED/PLANNING STAFF
ED/PUSD
D/HD/PUSD(MR FLOWER)
RESEARCH DEPT(MR WALKER)
LEGAL ADVISER(SIR IAN SINCLAIR)
PS
PS/LADY YOUNG
PS/AR LUCE
PS/PUS
SIR J BULLARD
MR GIFFARD
MR DONALD MR WRIGHT
2
SECRET
INDUSTRY
COPIES TO:
(VIA ADR)
MR ROBERTS
NEWS DEPT
MR. BURROWS
LEGAL ADVISERS
MR COLES NO 10 DOWNING ST
SIR A PARSONS
MR MARTIN ASSESSMENT STAFF
CABINET OFFICE
MR GOODALL CABINET OFFICE
MR BRENNAN .....--
PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE
PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL
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