GRS 170
SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMED KATE FCO
TELNO 1799
OF 18105OZ MAY 88
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
8
SECRET
•
MKB
011/2
12 MAY 1907
10
TOP
COPY
Sekil
YOUR TELNOS 1267-8 : STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT: LONGER TERM MSSUES
WE AGREE WITH THE ANALYSES AND SUGGEST HONS IN YOUR FIRST TUR. WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN DISCUSSING WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATION HOW TO TAKE OUR THINKING FORWARD ON THE VAR-MOUS LONGER-TERM ISSUES. NOW THAT DRAFTING OF THE GREEN PAPER HAS BEEN COMPLETED, WE SHALL BE USING RESOURCES PREVIOUSLY DEVOTED TO THAT SUBJECT TO CONCENTRATE ON THESE LONGER TERM ISSUES. WE SHALL LET YOU HAVE OUR CONSIDERED THOUGHTS ABOUT THE WORK PROGRAMME (INCLUDING, THE SUBJECTS OF INTERNAL PAPERS TO BE PREPARED) IN ABOUT TEN DAYS' TIME.
2. WE AGREE WITH THE LANE SUGGESTED IN PARA 2 OF YOUR SECOND TUR, EXCEPT THAT WE THANK THE FINAL SENTENCE OF SUB-PARA (M) A BHT TOO STARK. RT MIGHT BE REPLACED BY A SENTENCE ALONG THE FOLLOWING LINES: ? KT IS MOST IMPORTANT THAT THERE SHOULD NOT (NOT) BE ANY PERCEPTION OF JOINT ADMINISTRATION AS THIS WOULD CAUSE SERIOUS CONCERN IN HONG KONG AND ALLOW PEOPLE TO CAST DOUBT ON THE WAY IN
WHICH THE JOINT DECLARATION 4S BEING IMPLEMENTED.''
WILSON
VYYY
MMLNAN 2706
HONG KONG AGREEMENT: RESTRICTED
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
RESEARCH D. (FE)
DEP.HD/PUSD
PS/MR RENTON
MR MCLAREN
MR GILLMORE
COPIES TO:
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS
SECRET