SECRET
HICB 012
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
24 JAN1990
DESK OFFICER
036322
MDHOAN 1530
59)
SECRET FM FCO
TO DESKBY 21003OZ HONG KONG
TELNO 201
OF 201945Z JANUARY 90
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
INDEX
REGISTRY
PA
Action Taken
Pm
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR/POLITICAL ADVISER FROM MCLAREN. PEKING PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR.
UKREP JLG PERSONAL FOR GALSWORTHY
5+
(56
PEKING TELNOS 109/110, YOUR TELNOS 272-274 AND UKREP JLG TELNO 16: CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: QIAN'S REPLY
√3
1. I HAVE DISCUSSED TURS WITH MR MAUDE, THE PRIVATE SECRETARY AND SIR P CRADOCK. PS/NO 10 HAS ALSO BEEN INFORMED.
2.
MINISTERS WILL WANT TO CONSIDER THE WAY FORWARD CAREFULLY IN THE LIGHT OF YOUR AND SIR A DONALD'S RECOMMENDATIONS. IT WILL NOT BE PRACTICABLE FOR THEM TO DO SO OVER THE WEEKEND. NOR DOES IT SEEM NECESSARY: WHILE WE WILL CLEARLY NEED TO RESPOND TO THE LATEST CHINESE OFFER WELL BEFORE THE BLDC PLENARY OPENS ON 12 FEBRUARY, THERE IS NOTHING IN WHAT CHEN ZIYING SAID TO SIR A DONALD TO SUGGEST THAT THE CHINESE ARE EXPECTING A REPLY IN TIME FOR NEXT WEEK'S MEETING IN CANTON.
3.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE WILL BE IN THE GDR FROM THE AFTERNOON OF 22 JANUARY UNTIL 24 JANUARY. THERE MAY BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THE POSITION WITH HIM BEFORE HE LEAVES BUT HE IS LIKELY TO WISH TO CONSULT THE PRIME MINISTER BEFORE REACHING A FIRM VIEW.
4. WHILE IT IS FOR YOU TO DECIDE, THERE SEEMS LITTLE ADVANTAGE IN CONVENING A SPECIAL MEETING OF EXCO ON 22 JANUARY IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES. DAME LYDIA DUNN AND ALLAN LEE ARE IN ANY CASE IN LONDON. MR MAUDE WILL BE SEEING THEM EARLY ON 23 JANUARY, BEFORE THEY CALL ON THE PRIME MINISTER, AND WILL BE ABLE TO INFORM THEM OF THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS.
HURD
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