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GISTRY
29 DEC 1986
GRS 450
SECRET
FM PEKING
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2421
OF 220854Z DECEMBER 86
SECRET
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
547
532
HONG KONG TELNO 4192 AND MY TELNO 2386: 1987 REVIEW OF
REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG
1. WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS ON THE OPTIONS IN PARAGRAPH 3 OF
TUR:
(A) THERE WOULD BE A STRONG CHINESE REACTION TO THE SHORT NOTICE
AND ABSOLUTELY NO GUARANTEE THAT THE CHINESE WOULD NOT ASK FOR
TEXTUAL CHANGES. SHORTAGE OF TIME ALONE WOULD MAKE THESE DIFFICULT TO ACCEPT. THE WHOLE EXERCISE WOULD BE CONDUCTED IN AN UNFRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE,
(B)
THERE WOULD BE APPROVAL ON THE CHINESE SIDE FOR OUR **COOPERATION'', THOUGH THIS WOULD NOT IN ITSELF REDUCE THE PROPENSIOTY OF THE CHINESE TO ASK FOR TEXTUAL CHANGES. BUT, WITH MORE TIME IN HAND, THESE COULD BE EASIER TO SETTLE IF ANY CHINESE PROPOSALS WERE BASICALLY ACCEPTABLE TO US,
(C) WELCOME TO THE CHINESE, BUT PROBABLY MORE THAN THEY ARE
EXPECTING,
(D) FROM THE CHINESE POINT OF VIEW, A CLEAR IMPROVEMENT ON (A).
BUT IT WOULD NOT NECESSARILY GUARANTEE THAT THE CHINESE WOULD ABSTAIN FROM ASKING FOR TEXTUAL CHANGES TO THE DOCUMENT WE
REGARDED AS FINAL.
IN
2. NONE OF THE OPTIONS IN ISOLATION WOULD SEEM TO OFFER THE BEST WAY FORWARD. OUR PRIME CONCERN MUST BE TO MINIMISE THE RISK OF CONTROVERSY WHEN THE GREEN PAPER IS SHOWN TO THE CHINESE, WHATEVER THE TIMING AND WHATEVER ITS STATUS AS A DOCUMENT AT THAT POINT. ORDER TO ACHIEVE THIS, I SUGGEST THAT WE NEED TO ENGAGE IN A DIALOGUE WITH THE CHINESE WHICH LEADS TO AGREEMENT ABOUT THE WAY IN
WHICH THE ISSUE OF DIRECT ELECTIONS IS PRESENTED IN THE GREEN PAPER
BEFORE THAT DOCUMENT IS PUT TO THEM
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