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TELNO 311
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PERSONAL FOR HUM, HKD, FROM ACTING GOVERNOR
HUM KI
YOUR TELNOS 229-30′ AND PEKING TELNO 130 : 1987 REVIEW
FROM SECRETARY OF STATE.
MESSAGE
I THINK THE DRAFT MESSAGE IN SECOND TUR IS VERY MUCH ON THE RIGHT LINES, AND HAVE THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS:
A) PARA 2. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAKE THE POINT THAT WE WISH THE INFORMAL DIALOGUE TO CONTINUE, AND THEREFORE SUGGEST THAT THE LAST SENTENCE SHOULD END
AND HOPE THAT THESE WILL CONTINUE.**
B) PARA 3.
DRAFTING PROCESSES,
I THINK THERE IS A DANGER OF PROTESTING TOO MUCH ON THIS SUBJECT. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE MESSAGE COULD BE PUT OVER SLIGHTLY MORE PERSONALLY. THESE POINTS COULD BOTH BE MET IF THE LAST 3 SENTENCES WERE AMENDED ON THE FOLLOWING LINES:
''... WE HAVE TAKEN NO DECISIONS IN ADVANCE. ALL THE ISSUES WILL BE EXPLAINED NEUTRALLY AND ANY CHANGES, AND THEIR TIMING, WILL BE TAKEN IN THE LIGHT OF THE VIEWS WHICH ARE EXPRESSED. I HOPE THAT
YOU HAVE NO REMAINING DOUBTS ABOUT THIS.''
C) PARA 6. MY IMPRESSION IS THAT THE CHINESE DO NOT THEMSELVES REFER NATURALLY TO THE TRADITIONAL CYCLE AND TALK IN
TERMS OF THE SPRING FESTIVAL. THAT IS CERTAINLY WHAT THE NCNA DO
HERE. I THEREFORE SUGGEST THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE SIMPLY SENDS
WU HIS BEST WISHES FOR THE NEW YEAR.
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