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OCMIAN 3125
SECRET
OO HOKON
FM FCOLN TO HOKON
081030Z MAY
GRS 300
Hub 01117
1 1 MAY 1987
!
SECRET
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 1268
OF 061030 MAY 87
INFO PRIORITY PEKING
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53125 1
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MIPT: STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT, SELECTION OF PERSONNEL
1.
THIS IS THE AREA (POTENTIALLY AFFECTING ALL 3 OTHERS) ON
WHICH THE CHINESE HAVE MADE THE MOST SPECIFIC PROPOSALS. WE
HAVE TO RESPOND SOONER OR LATER: THIS MIGHT BE ORALLY IN A
SUBSEQUENT MINISTERIAL CONTACT, OR CONCEIVABLY ON PAPER. OUR
INITIAL THINKING IS THAT AT THIS STAGE WE SHOULD MAKE AN ORAL
RESPONSE.
2. WE SUGGEST THAT FOR THE PRESENT IT SHOULD BE LIMITED TO THE
FOLLOWING GENERAL PRINCIPLES:
II)
I) WE ACCEPT IN PRINCIPLE THAT IT WOULD ASSIST CONTINUITY AND
A SMOOTH TRANSITION FOR THE BRITISH AND CHINESE SIDES TO BE
IN CONTACT OVER CERTAIN HIGH-LEVEL APPOINTMENTS:
BUT WE BELIEVE THIS WOULD BE APPROPRIATE ONLY IN THE LAST
YEARS OF THE TRANSITIONAL PERIOD UP TO 1997. WE THINK IT
IS MOST IMPORTANT, BOTH AS A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE AND IN
TERMS OF LOCAL PERCEPTION, THAT THE BRITISH AND HONG KONG
GOVERNMENTS SHOULD FULLY EXERCISE, AND BE SEEN TO EXERCISE,
THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG
UP TO 3U JUNE 1997. ANY PERCEPTION OF JOINT ADMINISTRATION
WOULD BE MOST DAMAGING TO CONFIDENCE:
III)
WE SUGGEST THEREFORE THAT IT WOULD BE PREMATURE TO DISCUSS
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