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5. IN THE MEANTIME, THE LINE WE SHALL TAKE IN RESPONSE TO PRESS QUERIES IS THAT NO DECISION HAS YET BEEN TAKEN AND THAT THE MATTER
WILL BE PUT TO THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL IN DUE COURSE. IF ASKED
ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF AN INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT OFFICE SUCH
AS THAT SET UP IN REGARD TO THE DRAFT JOINT DECLARATION IN 1984,
WE SHALL REPLY THAT WHILE IT IS NOT APPROPRIATE TO PREEMPT EXCO'S
DECISION, THE 1984 EXERCISE WAS UNIQUE, RELATING AS IT DID TO
THE WHOLE FUTURE OF HONG KONG.
YOUDE
YYYY
HMLNAN 3871
THIS TELEGRAM WAS NOT
ADVANCED
HONG KONG AGREEMENT:
RESTRICTED
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
RESEARCH DEPT (FE)
DEP/HD/PUSD
PS/MR RENTON
MR GILLMORE
MR WILSON
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED)
COPIES TO:
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS
-2-
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