451
031705
MDHOAN 1424
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
HKB
012/1
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
24 JAN1990
DESK OFFICER
FM FCO
INDEX
RA
TO DESKBY 19010OZ PEKING TELNO 51
Pm
OF 18190OZ JANUARY 90
TOP COPY
REGISTRY
Action T DIST?
AND TO DESKBY 19010OZ HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR FROM MCLAREN, AUSS
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR
PERSONAL FOR GALSWORTHY
MY TELNO 178 TO HONG KONG: CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
1. THE SECRETARY OF STATE WILL BE HOLDING AN OFFICE MEETING AT 1909OOZ TO DISCUSS HONG KONG ISSUES INCLUDING CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
2.
•
ONE POSSIBLE SCENARIO IS FAILURE TO REACH AN ACCEPTABLE AGREEMENT WITH THE CHINESE FOLLOWED BY A UNILATERAL BRITISH DECISION ABOUT THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR 1991 CAND CONCEIVABLY 1995).
IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE YOUR ASSESSMENT, IN SUMMARY FORM, OF THE LIKELY REACTION OF THE CHINESE TO SUCH A DECISION ON OUR PART. IN PARTICULAR, WE WOULD LIKE SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OF AREAS IN WHICH THEY MIGHT DAMAGE OUR INTERESTS EITHER ACTIVELY OR BY WITHDRAWING COOPERATION. ANY COMMENTS FROM OTHER ADDRESSEES WOULD ALSO BE WELCOME.
4.
THIS ENQUIRY DOES NOT/NOT RESULT FROM ANY NEW INDICATION OF MINISTERIAL THINKING SINCE THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S RETURN FROM HONG KONG. BUT IN CONSIDERATION OF THE WAY FORWARD HE COULD WELL ASK ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES OF PARTICULAR COURSES OF ACTION.
5.
6.
HURD
GRATEFUL FOR REPLIES DESKBY 19080OZ.
FOR HONG KONG: GRATEFUL ALSO FOR REPLY TO TUR BY SAME DESKBY.
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
53
LIMITED
HKD
HEAD/FED
DISTRIBUTION
53
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PS/MR MAUDE PS/PUS
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CONFIDENTIAL