SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 27090OZ FCO
TELNO 941
OF 27044OZ MARCH 86
INFO DESKBY 27080OZ PEKING
SECRET
(80)
& Ac
YOUR TELMO 247 : REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT, THE BASIC LAW AND THE 1987 REVIEW: PROPOSED MEETING BETWEEN SECRETARY OF STATE AND WU
XUEQUAN
1. IN ACCORDANCE WITH PAST PRACTICE W WILL NEED TO TELL EXCO FORMALLY BEFORE THE MESSAGE IS DESPATCHED AND WILL DO SO AT
THE MEETING ON TUESDAY 1 APRIL.
2. THEY MAY QUESTION THE INCLUSION OF THE WORD 'CONVERGENCE** GIVEN THE CONTROVERSY WHICH THIS HAS AROUSED HERE AND ASK WHY
SOME OTHER FORMULATION CANNOT BE USED.
3. # HAVE MYSELF SOME DOUBT ABOUT THE WISDOM OF INCLUDING THE LAST SENTENCE IN FTS PRESENT FORM. IT COULD BE READ AS TOO SPECIFIC A PROPOSAL FOR AN EXCHANGE OF WHEWS ON REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT AGAINST THEIRS ON THE BASIC LAW AND THUS, GIVEN THE SENSITIVITY ON THE BASIC LAW, FRIGHTEN THE CHINESE OFF BEFORE
THE DIALOGUE HAS EVEN BEGUN.
4. # WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT FOR WU TO REFUSE AN OFFER COMING PERSONALLY FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO TAKE STOCK OF PROGRESS AND TO CONSIDER AREAS WHERE CO-OPERATION BETWEEN
US WILL BE NEEDED IN FUTURE'': AND THUS THE LAST SENTENCE IS NOT
STRICTLY NECESSARY.
5. AGREE THAT THE MESSAGE SHOULD CONTAIN THE SPECIFIC SUGGESTION
THAT A MEETING SHOULD TAKE PLACE DURING WU'S VISIT TO EUROPE.
6. THEREFORE SUGGEST THAT THE MESSAGE MIGHT BE ON THE FOLLOWING
LINES:
*** WAS INTERESTED TO HEAR THAT YOU WILL BE VISITING EUROPE IN MAY.
** BELIEVE IT WOULD BE MOST USEFUL IF YOU AND I COULD TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REWIEW THE DEVELOPMENTS ON HONG KONG THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE SINCE OUR MEETING IN LONDON LAST YEAR
AND CONSIDER AREAS WHERE CO-OPERATION BETWEEN US WILL BE NEEDED
OVER THE NEXT YEAR OR SO. # WONDER IF YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO WISIET
ME AT CHEVENING ON 10 MAY, OR IF THIS IS NOT CONVENMENT, PERHAPS
WE COULD MEET IN BRUSSELS ON 23 MAY.**
YOUDE
LIMITED.
HKD
FED.
PS.
ps/mr.RENTON
SIR.W. HARDING. Mr. WiLSON
SECRET
HKR ON|t
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
DL
- 4 APR 1986
TRY
Faken
PA
AJB4
la