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4. IDEALLY WE SHOULD LIKE TO TELL THE STAFF INVOLVED ON 3 FEBRUARY. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF THE EMBASSY COULD TAKE ACTION DURING THE PRECEDING WEEK. THERE IS NO ADVANTAGE IN WAITING FOR THE MARCH JOINT LIAISON GROUP MEETING, PARTICULARLY SINCE THE RELATED SUBJECT OF PENSIONS IS NOT NOW LIKELY TO BE DEALT WITH THEN. WE HAVE CONSIDERED BUT REJECTED THE IDEA OF BRIEFING LU PING (NOW IN HONG KONG) ON DETAILS OF THE PROPOSED CHANGE. THAT CHANNEL IS SUFFICIENTLY LOADED. LU HS HOWEVER AWARE IN GENERAL TERMS OF OUR 'INTENTION TO BRING ON YOUNGER ADMINISTRATIVE TALENT IN ADVANCE OF
1997.
5. A DRAFT SPEAKING NOTE FOLLOWS IN MIFT.
YOUDE
LIMITED
HKD
SIR. W. HARDING
MR. WILSON
THIS TELEGRAM WAS NOT ADVANCED
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