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AND HOW TO DEAL WITH THEM IN THE 1987 REVIEW, WILL BE AT THE SAME
TIME THE MOST DIFFICULT AND THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE IN
SINO-BRITISH RELATIONS OVER THE NEXT 12 MONTHS.
34.
WE MUST CONTINUE AND INTENSIFY OUR EXCHANGES WITH THE
CHINESE ON ALL THE ISSUES CONNECTED WITH QUOTE CONVERGENCE
UNQUOTE. WE MUST EMPHASISE WHY THE 1987 REVIEW MUST BE SEEN TO
BE GENUINE AND OPEN, WITH BOTH THE BRITISH AND CHINESE
GOVERNMENTS KEEPING AN OPEN MIND OVER THE OUTCOME. WE MUST SEEK
TO CREATE CONDITIONS OF TRUST WITHIN WHICH PROBLEMS CAN BE
DISCUSSED AND SOLVED.
35.
UNTIL THE STATE OF OPINION IN HONG KONG CRYSTALLISES, WE
CANNOT FORESEE PRECISELY HOW THESE PROBLEMS MIGHT BE TACKLED.
BUT THE CLOSER OUR INFORMAL DIALOGUE WITH THE CHINESE ON ALL THE
ISSUES CONNECTED WITH QUOTE CONVERGENCE UNQUOTE AND THE BASIC
LAW, THE BETTER WILL BE OUR CHANCES OF FINDING A WAY FORWARD
WHICH WILL AT LEAST REDUCE THE DIMENSIONS OF THE PROBLEMS
INVOLVED AND PRESENT AN OUTCOME WHICH WILL MAINTAIN CONFIDENCE
THAT THE TRANSITION TO 1997 CAN BE NEGOTIATED SUCCESSFULLY.
ENDS
HOWE
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MR GILLMORE
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