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16 DEC 1987
/JSTRY doon Taken
COPY u DIST.?
052126
MDHOAN 4921
SECRET
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 3255
OF 141045Z DECEMBER 87
INFO PRIORITY PEKING
TIMETABLE
YOUR TELNOS 4684-6: WHITE PAPER
1.
THANK YOU FOR SETTING OUT YOUR PLANNING SO FULLY. IN GENERAL WE ARE CONTENT, BUT WE DO HAVE ONE MAJOR ADJUSTMENT TO SUGGEST SO AS TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT MINISTERIAL TRAVEL.
OUR COMMENTS ON SECOND TUR ARE AS FOLLOWS:
2.
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
IT WOULD BE MOST HELPFUL IF YOU COULD SEND US THE SECOND DRAFT OF PAPER (A) ON 17 DECEMBER RATHER THAN 18
DECEMBER. THIS WOULD GIVE US AN EXTRA DAY TO CONSIDER
IT AND SEND COMMENTS WHICH CAN BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN
THE EXCO DISCUSSION ON 22 DECEMBER.
WE INTEND TO SUBMIT A DRAFT OF (A) TO OUR OWN MINISTERS
ON A PRELIMINARY BASIS BEFORE CHRISTMAS. MINISTERIAL BOXES PERMITTING, THIS WILL BE THE THIRD DRAFT, TO BE RECEIVED HERE ON 23 DECEMBER.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE WILL BE VISITING JAPAN FROM 7-13
JANUARY. WE THEREFORE NEED TO ENSURE THAT CLEARANCE BY MINISTERS (AND THAT MEANS MINISTERS COLLECTIVELY), IS
COMPLETED BY THE TIME OF HIS DEPARTURE. ON THAT BASIS WE
PROPOSE THE FOLLOWING REVISED ARRANGEMENTS:
(I)
(II)
(III)
(IV)
30 DECEMBER (A) FCO OFFICIALS' COMMENTS ON THIRD
DRAFT AND SECRETARY OF STATE'S PRELIMINARY REACTIONS RECEIVED IN HONG KONG (AS YOU PROPOSE).
31 DECEMBER (A) HKG OFFICIALS' REACTION TO (1)
CONVEYED TO FCO. SUBMISSION TO SECRETARY OF STATE
(WHICH WILL NEED TO BE COMPLETED EARLY IN THE
AFTERNOON).
4 JANUARY (A) SECRETARY OF STATE CONSULTS
COLLEAGUES.
8 JANUARY (A) MINISTERS' DECISION RECEIVED IN HONG KONG.
/
UNDER THESE ARRANGEMENTS EXCO WILL BE CONSULTED A SECOND TIME ON (A) IN PARALLEL WITH MINISTERS RATHER THAN BEFORE
WE SUBMIT. WE HOPE THAT IS ACCEPTABLE.
FOR PAPER (B), YOU PROPOSE TO SEND US ON 12 JANUARY A
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