74b
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4. WHATEVER HAPPENS THERE IS NOW AN OVERWHELMING CONCENSUS IN THE COUNCIL THAT WE NEED BETTER INFORMAL CHANNELS TO THE CHINESE. THE FIRST INTIMATION WE GOT OF THIS BOMBSHELL WAS A FORMAL PIECE OF PAPER. SOME ADVANCE WARNING WOULD HAVE GIVEN US MORE TIME AND MORE OPPORTUNITY TO STEER THE CHINESE IN THE DIRECTION IN WHICH WE WANT TO GO (INFORMAL EXCHANGES.)
WE CAN DISCUSS THIS WHEN YOU ARE HERE NEXT WEEK.
YOUDE
"HONG KONG AGREEMENT
LIMITED HD/HKD HD/FED
HD/PLANNING STAFF HD/PUSD
DEP HD/PUSD
RES 》 (MR WALKER)
PS
PS/MR RENTON
COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)
MR ROBERTS NEWS DEPT MR FIFOOT LEGAL ADVS
MR MARTIN ASST STAFF
CABINET OFFICE
MR MALLABY CABINET OFFICE MR DRC CHRISTOPHER
CABINET OFFICE SIR P CRADDOCK NO 10 DOWNING ST. MR WOOD LEGAL ADVISERS
PS/PUS
BIR W HARDING
MR WILSON
BIR J PREELAND
MR J CROWLEY PUSD
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