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INVOLVE A STATEMENT OF INTENT BY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT AND/OR THE BLDC WHICH WOULD MAKE CLEAR THAT POST-1997 ARRANGEMENTS WOULD BE COMPATIBLE WITH THOSE WHICH WE ENVISAGED FOR LEGCO IN 1988. THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE AN ASSUMPTION ON BOTH THE BRITISH AND CHINESE SIDES THAT ANY SUBSEQUENT CHANGES WOULD NEED TO FALL WITHIN THE PARAMETERS OF THE BASIC LAW, ONCE THESE HAD BEEN FULLY ESTABLISHED. IT IS NOT INCONCEIVABLE THAT SUCH AN OUTCOME COULD
IT IS LIKELY THAT BE ACHIEVED, BUT IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT. PERSONAL DISCUSSION BETWEEN THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND WU XUEQIAN WOULD BE NECESSARY TO SECURE IT.
26.
IT IS (FOLLOWING WORD IS UNDERLINED) RECOMMENDED THAT: (I) WE ADOPT THE 'LIMITED DELAY' OPTION FOR THE TIMING OF THE REVIEW, AND AIM TO PUBLISH THE GREEN PAPER AT THE LATEST AT THE END OF MAY 1987, AND THE WHITE PAPER IN JANUARY OR FEBRUARY 1988 (PARA 16 ABOVE):
(II) WE PREPARE THE WAY FOR THE REVIEW BY UNDERTAKING THE SERIES OF CONTACTS WITH THE CHINESE LISTED IN PARA 19 ABOVE: AND (III) WE HANDLE THE GREEN PAPER WITH THE CHINESE ON THE BASIS OF
PARA 22 ABOVE.
AT THIS STAGE, MINISTERS ARE REQUESTED ONLY TO NOTE THE POSSIBLE OPTIONS FOR THE OUTCOME OF THE REVIEW DESCRIBED IN PARA 25 ABOVE. 27. A CONSOLIDATED TIMETABLE OF EVENTS IN 1987, ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT THIS OPTION IS ADOPTED, IS ANNEXED.
ENDS
REMAINDER OF TEXT IS CONTAINED IN MY IFT.
HOWE
OCMIAN 1861
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Sin D. WILSON
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