SECRET FUTURE EGRET
25223
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WILL PROBABLY BE IN THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK.
3. THIS MEANS THAT DEFINITIVE MINISTERIAL VIEWS ON THE
PROPOSAL IN THE PAPER WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE IN TIME FOR THE EXCO
MEETING ON 19 JUNE. YOU SHOULD, HOWEVER, MAKE IT CLEAR THAT
THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS RESERVATIONS ON THE PROPOSALS
CONCERNING THE GOVERNOR.
4. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE ARE 3 MAIN ALTERNATIVES:
(A) WE PROCEED AS PROPOSED IN THE PAPER, DESPITE THESE RESERVATIONS.
CLEARLY THIS WOULD REQUIRE CONVINCING THE SECRETARY OF
STATE THAT THE RISKS WERE NOT AS GREAT AS
(B)
HE BELIEVES OR THAT THE ALTERNATIVES WERE WORSE.
THE GREEN PAPER IS AMENDED TO MAKE LESS SPECIFIC THE
REFERENCES TO THE PROCEDURES FOR APPOINTMENT OF THE GOVERNOR
AND THE DIMINUTION IN HIS POWER.
(C) THE PROPOSALS CONCERNING THE GOVERNOR ARE REMOVED FROM THE
GREEN PAPER AND TREATED SEPARATELY AT A LATER DATE.
5. WE ARE INCLINED TO GO FOR (B). SOME GENERAL REFERENCE TO THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE GOVERNOR'S POSITION IS PROBABLY NECESSARY BUT
COULD BE PUT IN MORE GENERAL TERMS.
I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOU COMMENTS DESKBY 130900Z.
HOWE
NNNN
DISTRIBUTION
LIMITED
HEAD HKD
HEAD FED
COPIES TO
SIR P CRADOCK
MR BURROWS, LEGAL ADVISERS
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SECRET FUTURE EGRET