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N WEGWTR:
13 JAN 1987
DESK OFFICER
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TO DESKBY 130100Z HONG KONG
TELNO 70
OF 12140OZ JANUARY 87
INFO DESKBY 130100Z PEKING
1987 REVIEW: PUBLICATION OF GREEN PAPER
1.
WE HAVE BEEN GIVING FURTHER CONSIDERATION TO THE TIMING
OF THE PUBLICATION OF THE GREEN PAPER IN THE LIGHT OF:
(A)
SEPARATE TELEGRAMS ON THE ARRIVAL OF THE NEW GOVERNOR:
(B)
WHAT WE NOW KNOW ABOUT POSSIBILITIES FOR CONTACT BETWEEN
BRITISH AND CHINESE MINISTERS BEFORE PUBLICATION.
IT
2.
AT OFFICIAL LEVEL WE NOW FAVOUR PUBLICATION IN LATE
MAY. THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH OUR PUBLICLY STATED INTENTIONS.
WOULD ALSO SEEM TO US TO FIT BEST, IN BOTH PRACTICAL AND PRESENTATIONAL TERMS, WITH THE ARRIVAL OF THE NEW GOVERNOR (YOUR PERSONAL TELNO 108 REFERS). IT WOULD GIVE US THE MAXIMUM SCOPE AND FLEXIBILITY FOR PRIOR EXCHANGES WITH THE CHINESE AT WHICH OUR
INTENTIONS COULD BE EXPLAINED. AND WE HAVE THE BEST JUSTIFICATION FOR ALLOWING THE END OF THE EXERCISE TO SLIP INTO
1988 AS WE WISH.
3.
POSSIBLE CONTACTS WITH THE CHINESE WERE LISTED IN THE DRAFT STRATEGY PAPER IN OUR TELNOS 006-008: YOU COMMENTED IN YOUR TELNOS 38 AND 39. WE NOW BELIEVE THAT THESE CONTACTS COULD BEST TAKE THE
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