SECRET
OCMIAN 6013
SECRET
DD 170100Z PEKIN
FM FCOLN TO HOKON
161640Z DEC
GRS 410
011
RECEIVED. I REGISTRY
1 8 DEC 1986
ISTRY
PA
on Tiken
SECRET
FM FCO
TO DESKBY 170100Z HONG KONG
TELNO 2889
OF 16164OZ DECEMBER 86
AND TO DESKBY 170100Z PEKING
言
537
See1541
6013
-
1
See (543
FOLLOWING PERSONAL FOR ACTING GOVERNOR FROM HUM, HKD
POSSIBLE POSTPONEMENT OF THE 1987 REVIEW
1.
I UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN MR RENTON AND DAVID WILSON WERE IN
HONG KONG FOR SIR E YOUDE'S FUNERAL THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION OF
THE POSSIBILITY OF USING THE GOVERNOR'S DEATH AS A REASON FOR
DELAYING THE 1987 REVIEW. IT WAS RECOGNISED THAT A KEY ELEMENT
WOULD BE PERCEPTIONS IN HONG KONG: MIGHT HONG KONG OPINION ITSELF
ADVOCATE SUCH A COURSE, OR ALTERNATIVELY MIGHT THIS BE SEEN AS
CAPITULATION TO CHINESE PRESSURE. YOU UNDERTOOK TO TELEGRAPH
YOUR VIEWS.
2. WE HOPE TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE BRIEFLY
WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE ON 19 DECEMBER. IT WOULD THEREFORE
BE MOST HELPFUL TO RECEIVE YOUR COMMENTS DESKBY 171200OZ IF AT ALL
POSSIBLE. AS WE SEE IT THERE ARE THREE BROAD OPTIONS:
(A)
(B)
TO MAINTAIN THE PRESENT TIMETABLE, WITH THE GREEN PAPER
PUBLISHED IN APRIL OR MAY AND THE WHITE PAPER PUBLISHED
BEFORE THE END OF 1986:
TO PUT BACK THE PROCESS BY A FEW MONTHS (WITH THE GREEN
PAPER PUBLISHED IN THE SUMMER AND THE WHITE PAPER IN PERHAPS
1
SECRET