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19
GPS750
SECRET
FUTURE EGRET
SECRET
FROM HONG KONG 291335Z AUG 84
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 2559 OF 29 AUGUST
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
16
17
HKK 040/ So
RECEIVED IN R
30 AUG 1984
DESK OFFICER INDEX
FUTURE EGRET: YOUR TELSNOS 1682 AND 1689; DRAFT WHITE PAPER
REGISTRY Action Taken
20/0/4519
1. I AGREE THAT A QUESTION AND ANSWER BOOKLET OF THE KIND
PROPOSED IN PARA 2 OF FIRST TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE WOULD BE
USEFUL: GIS WILL BE ASKED TO COMPILE A LIST OF QUESTIONS.
Reply!
2. THE DRAFT WHITE PAPER WILL HAVE TO BE DISCUSSED BY EXCO, AND
! SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR EARLY AUTHORITY TO PUT A TEXT TO THEM.
3. DETAILED COMMENTS ON THE DRAFT IN SECOND TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE
ARE AS FOLLOWS:
(A) PARA 2, SECOND SENTENCE: IT WOULD BE MORE ACCURATE TO SAY
THAT'
THE TEXT OF THIS WHITE PAPER IS ALSO BEING PUBLISHED IN
HONG KONG BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT...
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(B) PARA 6 ''TO .REMOVE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE 1997 DEADLINE''
SHOULD BE REPLACED BY **TO ALLEVIATE THE UNCERTAINTY CAUSED BY
THE 1997 DEADLINE'. THE VISIT BY THE THEN GOVERNOR IN 1979 WAS
AT THE INVITATION OF THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN TRADE RATHER
THAN THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT.
(C) THERE IS NO REFERENCE TO SIR HUMPHREY ATKINS' VISIT TO
PEKING AS LORD PRIVY SEAL IN JANUARY 1992. GIVEN THE SIGNIFICANT
INDICATIONS TO CHINESE POLICY WHICH WERE OBTAINED DURING THAT VISIT,
IT MIGHT DESERVE A MENTION.
SECRET