SECRET
6280
1
WOULD HAVE LONGER TO COME TO GRIPS WITH THE ISSUES CONNECTED WITH
THE REVIEW BEFORE IT GOT UNDER WAY. IT WOULD ALSO BE POSSIBLE TO
USE THIS CONSIDERATION AS A VERY RESPECTABLE ARGUMENT TO DEFLECT
ANY CRITICISM.IN FACT A LIMITED DELAY IN THE WHOLE EXERCISE, WHICH
MAINTAINED THE SAME PERIOD FOR THE CONSULTATION EXERCISE AS IS AT
PRESENT ENVISAGED, MIGHT WELL BE EASIER TO JUSTIFY THAN SIMPLY
PROLONGING THE CONSULTATION. PERIOD. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO RECEIVE
ANY FURTHER COMMENTS WHICH YOU MAY HAVE ON THIS, DESKBY 180900Z.
4. WE NOTE THAT YOU WOULD EXPECT TO HAVE A FAIR IDEA OF THE
CONTENTS OF THE BASIC LAW BY ABOUT THE END OF OCTOBER 1987. WE
WONDER IF THIS MIGHT NOT BE RATHER OPTIMISTIC WHERE THE
PROVISIONS ON GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE ARE CONCERNED. THE CHINESE
APPEAR READY TO ENVISAGE THAT THE PROVISIONS ON GOVERNMENT
STRUCTURE MIGHT STILL BE UNDER DISCUSSION AS LATE AS DECEMBER
1987. THEY HAVE NOT EVEN RULED OUT A SITUATION IN WHICH THE FIRST
DRAFT OF THE BASIC LAW, TO BE PUBLISHED IN 1988, WOULD STILL NOT
HAVE FIRM PROVISIONS IN THIS AREA: PRESUMABLY A RANGE OFOPTIONS
WOULD BE IDENTIFIED BUT NO MORE.
5. WE SHALL HAVE TO ADDRESS AT A SLIGHTLY LATER STAGE THE
QUESTION OF EXACTLY HOW THE CONTENTS OF THE GREEN PAPER SHOULD BE
EXPLAINED TO THE CHINESE. WE NOTE THE POINTS MADE IN TURS.
HOWE
OCMIAN 6280
NNNN
MAIN
LIMITED
HKD
FED
PS
PS/MR RENTON
PS/PUS
MR GILLMORE
MR
WILSON
2
SECRET