SECRET
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 108
OF 131615Z JANUARY 88
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
SECRET
TOP COPY @ DIST ?
ва
011 (39)
143552
DHOAN 6552
нев
011
VED HN REGIONY
15 JAN 1988
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
YOUR TELNO 171: REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT: WHITE PAPER
1
·
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE DRAFT SPEAKING NOTE IN TUR, GENERALLY SEEMS TO US TO FIT THE BILL ADMIRABLY.
2.
WHICH
EXPANDED SO
WE SUGGEST THAT PARAS 1 AND 2 COULD BE USEFULLY AS TO REFLECT MORE FULLY AND PRECISELY WHAT WAS SAID ON THIS SUBJECT DURING THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT IN DECEMBER. FOR CLARITY THE REVISED DRAFT PARA 1 IS IN MIFT. OUR OTHER SUGGESTED CHANGES ARE AS FOLLOWS.
3.
PARA 2: FIRST SENTENCE: DELETE QUOTE INTRODUCING UNQUOTE AND SUBSTITUTE QUOTE THE INTRODUCTION OF UNQUOTE.
PARA 2: INSERT AFTER THE FIRST SENTENCE A NEW SENTENCE QUOTE HE SAID HE WOULD CONSIDER POSITIVELY THE NUMBER OF SEATS INDICATED BY GOVERNOR UNQUOTE.
PARA 4, SECOND SENTENCE AFTER QUOTE PAPER UNQUOTE ADD QUOTE ILLUSTRATING THE WAY IN WHICH IT IS INTENDED TO DEAL UNQUOTE.
PARA 5, SECOND SENTENCE INSERT QUOTE FOR STUDY UNQUOTE BETWEEN QUOTE CHINESE SIDE UNQUOTE AND QUOTE BEFORE PUBLICATION UNQUOTE.
ONE POINT WHICH THE SPEAKING NOTE DOES NOT COVER AT ALL IS A DEADLINE FOR THE RECEIPT OF ANY CHINESE COMMENTS ON THE IDEAS IN THE PAPER. WE FEEL THAT ONE SHOULD BE SPECIFIED: OTHERWISE YOU CANNOT GO AHEAD WITH CERTAINTY AND SEND THE DRAFT WHITE PAPER TO THE PRINTERS. GIVEN THE POSSIBILITY OF COMPLICATIONS, AND THE POSSIBLE NEED FOR FURTHER EXCHANGES WITH THE CHINESE, WE THINK IT WOULD BE IMPRUDENT TO GIVE THEM MORE THAN ABOUT A WEEK TO REACT. WE SUGGEST THAT THE POINT SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE ADDITION OF A PARAGRAPH TO THE SPEAKING NOTE ON THE FOLLOWING LINES:
QUOTE
6.
GRATEFUL IF CHINESE SIDE COULD INDICATE BY 22 JANUARY IF THEY HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON OUR PAPER WHICH MIGHT NEED TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN PREPARATION OF WHITE PAPER.
UNQUOTE.