SECRET
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 15
OF 041645Z JANUARY 88
O!
SECRET
HURB
011/1
N 1488
114152
MDHOAN 5899
COPY OT ?
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM PAUL, HKD
YOUR TELNO 4895: REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT: WHITE PAPER 1. THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS ENDORSED (WITHOUT COMMENT) THE DECISIONS CONTAINED IN THE DRAFT CHAPTERS III AND VIII OF THE WHITE PAPER, ON THE BASIS OF THE DRAFTS WHICH WERE SUBMITTED TO HIM ON 23 DECEMBER. HOWEVER HE WAS UNABLE TO APPROVE THE DRAFT MINUTE TO OD (K) COLLEAGUES IN TIME FOR THE PRIME MINISTER TO BE CONSULTED BEFORE HER DEPARTURE FOR AFRICA. WE CANNOT REALISTICALLY EXPECT TO OBTAIN THE PRIME MINISTER'S APPROVAL UNTIL AFTER HER RETURN ON 8 JANUARY.
2. THIS IS UNFORTUNATE BUT NOT DISASTROUS. IN PRACTICE IT MEANS THAT THE TIMETABLE THIS END, AS SET OUT IN YOUR TELNO 4780, HAS SLIPPED BY A WEEK. THE PRIME MINISTER AND OTHER MINISTERIAL COLLEAGUES WILL NOW (NOW) BE CONSULTED ON THE BASIS OF THE REVISED AND IMPROVED FINAL DRAFTS CONTAINED IN YOUR TELNOS 3-10 INCLUSIVE, WHICH IS OF COURSE PROCEDURALLY PREFERABLE. ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE PRIME MINISTER'S AGREEMENT CAN BE OBTAINED QUICKLY (IE BY 11 JANUARY) WE SHOULD BE BACK ON SCHEDULE AND ABLE TO AUTHORISE PEKING TO SHOW THE CHINESE THE TEXTS BY 13 JANUARY AS PLANNED.
HOWE
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17
LIMITED
HKD
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DISTRIBUTION
17
MR GILLMORE
MR MCLAREN