DD 10010OZ HONG KONG
GRS135
SECRET
DESKBY 1001002
FM FCO 091500Z FEB 84
SECRET
TOP COPY
18825
-
1
Hcicogel
RECEIVELIK LESBO
3.2 184
DISTRA
ironman Eng
DESK OF PE
W
drad
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 237 OF 9 FEBRUARY
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
FUTURE OF HONG KONG: LEGCO DEBATE ON 15 FEBRUARY
1.
YOUR TELECON WITH CLIFT. WE AGREE THAT IF POSSIBLE LEGCO
SHOULD BE PERSUADED TO PUT DOWN A QUESTION RATHER THAN A MOTION
IN ORDER TO AVOID A DEBATE. WE REALISE THAT THEY CANNOT BE
DEFLECTED ALTOGETHER FROM RAISING THE POINT. OUR PREFERENCE
WOULD BE FOR A FORMULA AS FOLLOWS:
'WHETHER IT IS PROPOSED THAT ANY PROPOSALS FOR THE FUTURE OF
HONG KONG SHOULD BE DEBATED IN THIS COUNCIL BEFORE A FINAL
AGREEMENT IS REACHED?'
2.
IN ANY CASE WE THINK IT EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO PERSUADE THE
UNOFFICIALS TO AVOID A REFERENCE TO A TEST OF ACCEPTABILITY, IN
PARTICULAR ONE WHICH PREJUDGED THE FORM WHICH THAT TEST MIGHT TAKE.
HOWE
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
COPIES TO:
105
See(108)
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
FD/PLANNING STAFF
HD/PUSD
D/HD/PUSD (MR FLOWER)
RES.D. (MR WALKER)
LEGAL ADVISER (SIR IAN SINCLAIR
PS
PS/LADY YOUNG
PS/MR LUCE
PS/PUS
SIR J BULLARD
SIR W HARDING
MR DONALD
LR WRIGHT
SIR C TICKELL
BUCKINGHAM PALACE
PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL
PS/HOME SECRETARY
PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER
PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL
PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE & INDUSTRY
COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)
MR ROBERTS
NEWS D
MR BURROWS LEGAL ADVS
MR COLES NO 10 DOWNING ST
MR MARTIN ASSESSMENT STAFF CABINET OFFICE
MR GOODALL CABINET OFFICE
MR BRENNAN CABINET OFFICE
PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE D PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL
SIR P CRADOCK RM K195
SIR P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING STREET
SECRET