SECRET
00 PEKING
GRS 700
SECRET
FM FCO 081035Z AUGUST 84
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1559 OF 8 AUG
MKK04050
37735
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RECL., LO IR›
-9 AUG 1934
asla
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING (FOR AMBASSADOR AND GOVERNOR)
YOUR TELNO 2276: FUTURE OF HONG KONG : ADMINISTRATION :
PREPARATION OF WHITE PAPER ON THE AGREEMENT
1. WE AGREE THAT THE TIDIEST PROCEDURE, SHOULD TIME PERMIT, WOULD BE TO HAVE AN INTERVAL OF A FEW DAYS BETWEEN THE CONCLUSION OF NEGOTIATION ON THE AGREEMENT AND THE INITIALLING CEREMONY.
(4)
THIS WOULD
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ALLOW YOURSELVES AND OURSELVES TO PUT THE FINISHING TOUCHES TO THE PROOFS OF OUR RESPECTIVE WHITE PAPERS AND TO ORGANISE THEIR PRODUCTION SO THAT PRINTED TEXTS WERE AVAILABLE FOR ISSUE
THE WHITE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE INITIALLING HAD TAKEN PLACE. PAPER COULD THEN BE TABLED AT ONCE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND SIMULTANEOUSLY INTRODUCED APPROPRIATELY IN LONDON (NOT OF COURSE BY A MINISTERIAL STATMENT TO PARLIAMENT, WHICH WILL BE IN RECESS, BUT IN SOME OTHER WAY.)
2. HOWEVER, WE SHOULD ALSO BE PREPARED FOR THE CONTINGENCY IN WHICH THE NEGOTIATION IS CONCLUDED ONLY TOWARDS THE VERY END OF SEPTEMBER AND INTIALLING MUST TAKE PLACE IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER. IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES WE MIGHT HAVE TO ACCEPT A SHORT DELAY
WE AGREE BETWEEN INITIALLING AND PUBLICATION OF THE WHITE PAPER. THAT THE TEXT OF THE AGREEMENT SHOULD CERTAINLY NOT/NOT BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC IN HONG KONG OR ELSEWHERE WITHOUT THE
WE EXPLANATORY MATERIAL TO BE CONTAINED IN THE WHITE PAPER. SHOULD THEREFORE NEED TO AGREE WITH THE CHINESE THAT NEITHER SIDE WOULD RELEASE THE TEXT OF THE AGREEMENT UNTIL THE WHITE PAPERS WERE PUBLISHED. THIS DELAY WOULD NOT BE IDEAL, BUT THE TECHNICAL REASONS FOR IT SHOULD BE CAPABLE OF BEING EXPLAINED BOTH TO THE CHINESE AND TO THE PUBLIC.
3.
THE AMENDMENT TO THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS SPEECH WHICH WE PROPOSED IN PARA 1(C) OF OUR TELNO 1541 DOES NOT/NOT
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