GRS228
SECRET
DESKBY 220100Z
FM FCO 21134OZ SEP 84
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
SECRET
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4665 - 1 24 SEP 1984
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112
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1908 OF 21 SEPTEMBER
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
OUR TELNO 1842: FUTURE OF HONG KONG: TEST OF ACCEPTABILITY
1. WE DISCUSSED THIS BRIEFLY WITH THE GOVERNOR, AND HAVE NOW
DISCUSSED THE TIMING OF THE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE FURTHER WITH
THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
2. WE HAVE ESTABLISHED THAT IT IS EXTREMELY UNLIKELY TO BE
POSSIBLE TO HOLD A PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE IN THE SECOND WEEK OF
DECEMBER. THE ONLY SAFE COURSE THEREFORE IS TO SEEK A DEBATE
TOWARDS THE END OF THE FIRST WEEK OF DECEMBER.
3. IT IS ESSENTIAL TO PUBLISH THE REPORTS ON ACCEPTABILITY
(BY THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE AND THE MONITORING TEAM) BY THE END
OF THE PRECEDING WEEK AT THE LATEST. WE SHOULD THEREFORE NEED
TO RECEIVE THE TEXTS OF THOSE REPORTS EARLY IN THAT WEEK (26-30 NOVEMBER). IF COMPILING THE REPORTS CANNOT BE DONE IN
LESS THAN TWO WEEKS, THIS WOULD MEAN THAT THE UNIT WOULD HAVE TO CEASE TAKING EVIDENCE ON 9 NOVEMBER OR THEREABOUTS LEAVING JUST
OVER SIX AND A HALF WEEKS FOR THE SUBMISSION OF VIEWS IN HONG
KONG.
4. WE CAN SEE NO WAY OF COMPRESSING THE TIMESCALE OF OUR PART
OF THE EXERCISE BECAUSE OF THE PHYSICAL DIFFICULTY OF SETTING
THE PRINT. WE ASSUME THAT THE REPORTS WILL BE SUBSTANTIAL
DOCUMENTS. UNLESS THE ASSESSMENT UNIT CAN TAKE LESS THAN TWO
WEEKS ACTUALLY TO DRAW UP THEIR REPORTS, WE SEE NO ALTERNATIVE
TO THE ABOVE TIMING.
HOWE
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
HD/PLANNING STAFF
HD/PUSD
DEP HD/PUSD
RESEARCH D (MR WALKER)
LEGAL ADVISERS(SIR J FREELAND) PS
PS/LADY YOUNG
PS/MR LUCE
PS/PUS
SIR W HARDING
SIR C TICKELL
MR GOODALL
MR DEREK THOMAS MR. BOYD
COPIES TO:-
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 DEPT
MR BICKFORD LEGAL ADVISERS (RM K197)
MR FIFOOT LEGAL ADVISERS
MR POWELL NO 10 DOWNING ST.
MR INGHAM NO 10 DOWNING ST.
MR MARTIN ASSESSMENTS STAFF CABINET OFFIC
MR CARTLEDGE CABINET OFFICE
MR COLVIN
CABINET OFFICE
PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE
PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL
SIR P CRADOCK ROOM K195
SIR P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING ST.
CEORET