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THAN SUGGEST). SUCH A REBUFF WOULD MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE
CHINESE SIDE TO JUSTIFY CONCESSIONS TO OUR VIEW IN OTHER AREAS.
AT THE VERY LEAST WE WOULD THEREFORE BE LOADING THE DICE AGAINST
ANY POSITIVE DECISIONS ON SUBJECTS OF IMPORTANCE TO US AT THE
FORTHCOMING JLG MEETING. WE DO NOT SHARE EXCO'S BELIEF THAT THE
CHINESE WILL PERCEIVE A NEED FOR THESE DECISIONS IN ORDER TO
MAINTAIN THEIR OWN CREDIBILITY IN HONG KONG.
5.
MOREOVER BY REFUSING TO AGREE THAT THE SUBJECT
BE DISCUSSED AT ALL IN THE JLG WE SHOULD BE PUTTING OURSELVES IN
A POSITION WHICH WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO DEFEND, CERTAINLY AT
WESTMINSTER, WHERE WE BELIEVE THERE IS A WIDESPREAD VIEW THAT WE
OUGHT TO DISCUSS PRECISELY THIS SORT OF THING WITH THE CHINESE.
WE APPRECIATE THAT MANY IN HONG KONG WILL NOT SEE IT IN QUITE
THIS WAY. BUT WE ARE NOT SURE THAT IT WOULD BE AS DIFFICULT AS
YOU SUGGEST TO PRESENT THE MATTER POSITIVELY IN HONG KONG IF WE
WERE TO SAY THAT AT CHINESE REQUEST WE HAD GIVEN THEM A BRIEFING
ON POLITICAL EVOLUTION IN HONG KONG UP TO DATE, AND TO ADD IF
NECESSARY THAT WE HAD NOT DISCUSSED FUTURE POLITICAL EVOLUTION
SINCE THERE IS AT THIS STAGE NOTHING TO DISCUSS. WE COULD EVEN
SAY THAT WE HAD EXPRESSED WILLINGNESS TO LISTEN TO ANY CHINESE
VIEWS ON THE SUBJECT: BUT UNTIL 1997 IT IS FOR US TO TAKE ANY
DECISIONS.
6.
THE KEY QUESTION SEEMS TO US TO BE NOT WHETHER THE ISSUE
IS TACKLED IN THE JLG OR NOT, BUT HOW IT IS TACKLED. WE FULLY
AGREE THAT WE ARE NOT IN A POSITION TO DISCUSS OUR OWN IDEAS ON
WHAT MIGHT COME OUT OF THE 1987 REVIEW. PROBABLY THE CHINESE ARE
ALSO NOT IN A POSITION TO TELL US THEIR IDEAS FOR THE BASIC LAW,
THOUGH WE CANNOT BE CERTAIN OF THIS UNTIL WE CHALLENGE THEM ON
IT. WE DO NOT THINK THAT WE SHOULD ACCEPT THE CHINESE PROPOSAL
THAT 'A STUDY BE MADE OF THE ISSUES CALLING FOR CONSULTATION AND
SOLUTION BY BOTH SIDES ON THIS BASIS'. WE SHOULD MERELY EXPRESS
WILLINGNESS TO LISTEN TO ANYTHING THAT THE CHINESE HAVE TO SAY ON
THIS SUBJECT. WE SHOULD USE THIS OCCASION TO GIVE A BROAD HINT
THAT FOR ANY DISCUSSION AT A LATER STAGE TO MAKE SENSE THEY WOULD
NEED TO EXPOUND TO US THEIR IDEAS ON WHAT MIGHT GO INTO THE BASIC
LAW. THIS SEEMS TO US TO BE THE BEST WAY OF APPROACHING EXCO'S
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