CONFIDENTIAL
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MDHIAN 8711
AND HONG KONG'S ATTENTION.
5. TOWARDS THE END OF THE MEETING, GUO SAID HE LOOKED FORWARD TO SEEING THE GOVERNOR IN NOVEMBER. THE MFA WERE STILL LOOKING INTO THE
ARRANGEMENTS AND WOULD GIVE US A FORMAL RESPONSE AS SOON AS THEY HAD FINISHED.
COMMENT
6. ALTHOUGH THE ATMOSPHERE OF THE MEETING WAS CORDIAL THROUGHOUT, THE MESSAGE WAS CLEAR. HAVING BEEN FORCED TO CONCEDE OVER
PARLIAMENTARY AND LEGCO DEBATES ON THE DRAFT BASIC LAW, THE CHINESE MAY NOW BE CONCERNED THAT THE GROUND RULES ARE GETTING BLURRED OR
EVEN FORGOTTEN. PROBABLY THE MAIN REASON FOR GUO CALLING ME IN WAS
NOT SO MUCH THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH AS CONCERN OVER PUBLICITY FOR MR
FIFOOT'S FORTHCOMING VISIT. THIS REINFORCES THE POINTS WE MADE IN MY
TELNO 1254 ABOUT A DEFENSIVE PRESS LINE AND THE NEED TO TREAT THE
ENTIRE VISIT WITH GREAT SENSITIVITY.
7. WE ARE NOW ATTEMPTING TO CLEAR THE PRESS LINE FOR THE VISIT TO PEKING WITH THE MFA AND WILL REPORT THEIR RESPONSE.
DONALD
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
48
.HONG KONG AGREEMENT
.(RESTRICTED)
LIMITED
HKD
HD/FED
RESEARCH (FE)
ADDITIONAL
1
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS
NNNN
DISTRIBUTION
49
PUSD
PS/LORD GLENARTHUR
PS/MR EGGAR
PS/PUS
MR MCLAREN
MR GILLMORE
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CONFIDENTIAL