SECRET
OCMIAN 0842
SECRET
CO PEKIN
FM FCOLN TO HOKON
151730Z JAN
GRS 1460
H K K a 2
LUI REGISTRY
14 JAN 1307
SECRET
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 119
OF 151730Z JANUARY 87
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
RY
akken
10842
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PERSONAL FOR ACTING GOVERNOR FROM HUM, HKD
MY 2 IPTS: 1987 REVIEW
FOLLOWING IS CONTINUATION OF REVISED TEXT OF DRAFT PAPER.
BEGINS
15. LIMITED DELAY, AS DESCRIBED IN PARA 13 ABOVE, WOULD
BRING US SOME TACTICAL ADVANTAGE. IT MAY PERMIT A BETTER
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE REVIEW PROCESS AND THE DRAFTING OF THE
BASIC LAW. CHINESE SUSPICIONS WOULD NOT BE GREATLY REDUCED, BUT
WE WOULD HAVE A LITTLE MORE TIME TO EXPLAIN OUR INTENTIONS TO THE
CHINESE AND A SLIGHTLY GREATER MARGIN OF MANOEUVRE. PUBLICATION
OF THE GREEN PAPER AT THE END OF MAY WOULD MEET OUR TACTICAL
NEEDS, WHILE BEING CONSISTENT WITH ALL EARLIER PUBLIC STATEMENTS.
FOR PUBLICATION OF THE WHITE PAPER WE COULD BEST AIM FOR
FEBRUARY, TO GIVE US MAXIMUM MANOEUVRABILITY.
CONTACTS WITH THE CHINESE
16.
DURING 1987 IT WILL BE VITAL TO MAINTAIN THE CLOSEST
POSSIBLE DIALOGUE WITH THE CHINESE OVER THE ISSUES RAISED BY THE
REVIEW. IT WILL BE NECESSARY:
(I)
TO REASSURE THEM OF OUR INTENTIONS IN CONDUCTING THE
REVIEW:
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