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YOU PRESUMABLY MEAN 'CRITICISM BY SOME MORE RADICAL
ELEMENTS FOR NOT GOING FURTHER'. WE THINK IT ESSENTIAL
TO MAINTAIN THE POSITION STATED FIRMLY IN THE JLG THAT
WE HAVE NO PRECONCEIVED IDEAS ABOUT WHAT CONCLUSIONS
THE 1987 REVIEW SHOULD REACH. WE THINK 'BEFORE TAKING
THE NEXT STEP WHICH WILL BE FOR REVIEW IN 1987' IS TOO
DEFINITE. WE SUGGEST 'BEFORE DECIDING IN 1987 WHETHER
AND WHAT FURTHER STEPS ARE NEEDED'.
(E) PARA 10. SENTENCE BEGINNING 'WE HAVE AT THE PRESENT
MOMENT NO IDEA
1 SUGGESTS RATHER DIRECTLY THAT WE
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DOUBT THE CHINESE COMMITMENT TO CONSULT THE PEOPLE OF
HONG KONG. WE SUGGEST INSTEAD 'NO IDEA OF THE CHINESE
GOVERNMENT'S VIEWS ON HOW THIS CONSULTATIVE PROCESS
SHOULD BE CARRIED OUT AND EXACTLY WHAT ITS SCOPE SHOULD
BE'.
(F) PARA 11. SECOND SENTENCE SUGGESTS THAT THE BASIC LAW
SHOULD NOT LAY DOWN ANYTHING, AND THAT MATTERS SHOULD BE
LEFT OPEN UNTIL 1997. WE THINK THE LINE SHOULD RATHER BE
THAT DURING THE NEXT YEAR OR SO WHILE THIS DEBATE
PROCEEDS IN HONG KONG NEITHER GOVERNMENT SHOULD ADOPT
PRECONCEIVED IDEAS.
(G) PARA 12. THIRD SENTENCE SOUNDS A BIT ONE-SIDED FROM
THE CHINESE POINT OF VIEW. WE SUGGEST YOU SAY THAT EACH
SIDE SHOULD BE FRANK WITH THE OTHER ABOUT HOW THEIR IDEAS
ARE DEVELOPING SO THAT THERE CAN BE A CONSTRUCTIVE
EXCHANGE OF VIEWS ETC.
(H) PARA 13. WE THINK THE PASSAGE ABOUT 'CREDIBILITY OF
CHINESE GOVERNMENT'S PROMISES' WILL RAISE UNNECESSARY
HACKLES.
WE SUGGEST SOMETHING LIKE 'CONVINCING PEOPLE OF
THE DETERMINATION OF BOTH GOVERNMENTS TO MAKE A SUCCESS
OF OUR JOINT ENDEAVOUR NEEDS THE EFFORTS OF BOTH
GOVERNMENTS. WE CANNOT DO IT ALONE WITHOUT THE HELP OF
THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT.'
(I) PARA 13. THE LAST SENTENCE SOUNDS LIKE A REQUEST FOR
A BLANK CHEQUE. WE SUGGEST 'WE TAKE A SERIOUS VIEW OF OUR
RESPONSIBILITY TO ADMINISTER HONG KONG UNTIL 1997 AND TO
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CONFIDENTIAL