GRS 1100
SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 17120OZ FCO
TELNO 4172
OF 17095OZ DECEMBER 86
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
(2)
SECRET
PEKING TELNO 2382 AND YOUR TELNO 2889 : REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT
IN HONG KONG
1. I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE REFLECTIVE ANALYSIS OF THE POSITION
SEEN FROM PEKING AND HAVE THE FOLLOWING IMMEDIATE COMMENTS. THE
SITUATION IS EVOLVING DAY BY DAY NOT ONLY IN THE CHINESE DIMENSION
BUT ALSO IN THE HONG KONG DIMENSION (A TELEGRAM WILL FOLLOW ON
THE MOOD FOLLOWING SIR E YOUDE'S DEATH).
3.
THE WHITE PAPER IS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLICATION TOWARDS THE END
OF 1987 (SEE TIMETABLE HANDED TO WILSON IN HONG KONG RECENTLY).
OUR PRESENT ASSESSMENT IS THAT THE BASIC LAW DRAFTING PROCESS WILL
HAVE ADVANCED SUFFICIENT FOR US TO HAVE A FAIR IDEA FROM OUR
MANY CONTACTS OF ITS CONTENTS BY ABOUT THE END OF OCTOBER 1987 EVEN
IF THE ACTUAL DRAFT HAS NOT BEEN PUBLISHED.
4. WITH REGARD TO YOUR TELNO 2889. I HAVE CAREFULLY REFLECTED
ON THE POSITION, NOW THAT SOME DAYS HAVE PASSED SINCE SIR EDWARD
YOUDE'S DEATH. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE OR
PUBLICLY ACCEPTABLE TO USE THAT AS A REASON FOR DELAYING THE 1987
REVIEW. OUR ASSESSMENT, INCLUDING INFORMAL CONSULTATION WITH THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, INDICATES CLEARLY THAT TO DELAY THE REVIEW WOULD BE TAKEN AS HAVING YIELDED TO PRESSURE FROM THE CHINESE, AND
·THAT ITS EFFECT ON CONFIDENCE WOULD BE SERIOUS.
SECRET
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