FOLLOWING PATTERN:
(A)
-
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10112 1
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JANUARY 1987. MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO THE
CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER. YOU QUERIED THE PURPOSE OF
THIS. WE HAVE IN MIND THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE MIGHT:
(I) REFER TO 1987 AS AN IMPORTANT YEAR FOR HONG KONG AND
EXPRESS THE HOPE THAT THERE WOULD BE THE CLOSEST POSSIBLE
DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS
ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT WOULD ARISE:
(II) RECALL, WITH REFERENCE TO WHAT ZHOU NAN SAID TO THE LATE
GOVERNOR IN DECEMBER, THAT WE WERE APPROACHING THE 1987
REVIEW WITH A TOTALLY OPEN MIND AND WITHOUT
PRE-JUDGEMENT:
(III) EXPRESS THE HOPE THAT THE TWO MINISTERS MIGHT BE ABLE TO
MEET IN MARCH DURING WU'S VISIT TO EUROPE, AND
SUBSEQUENTLY DURING THE ESCAP MEETING IN BANGKOK AT THE
END OF MAY.
(B)
JANUARY TO MARCH 1987. POSSIBLE VISIT TO HONG KONG BY
ZHOU NAN OR OTHERS.
OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN STATE OF HONG KONG OPINION.
(C)
MARCH 1987.
MEETING BETWEEN SECRETARY OF STATE AND WU ON
LATTER'S VISIT TO EUROPE. SECRETARY OF STATE
- HANDS OVER PAPER ON HANDLING OF DIRECT ELECTIONS IN
1987 REVIEW.
- PRESENTS OTHER MAIN THEMES OF GREEN PAPER. (COMMENT:
WE WOULD NOT/NOT FAVOUR HANDING OVER A PAPER TO THE
CHINESE SO FAR IN ADVANCE OF PUBLICATION OF THE GREEN
PAPER AS JANUARY OR FEBRUARY (PARA 20 OF YOUR TELNO 39
REFERS). WE THINK IT WOULD BE PREFERABLE FOR THIS PAPER
TO BE INTRODUCED ORALLY BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE. ΤΟ
HAND OVER THE PAPER COLD, FURTHER IN ADVANCE OF
PUBLICATION OF THE GREEN PAPER, WOULD IN OUR VIEW
INCREASE THE RISK THAT THE CHINESE WOULD TRY TO EXERT
INFLUENCE OVER ITS DRAFTING.)
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