040556Z
ADV/REF RR PAUL SUGG AS REFTEL
LNMDAN
SECRET
7 HMLNAN 4573
DD 04090OZ FCOLN
FM HOKON TO FCOLN
0405152 JAN
DRS 256
SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TELNO 41
TO DESKBY 040900Z FCO
OF 040515Z JANUARY 89
HKB
012/1
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
08 JAN1990
DESK OFFICER INDEX
RA
fm.
REGISTRY
Action Taken
STRICTLY PERSONAL FOR PAUL, HKD FROM GOVERNOR
YRTELNO 19: VISIT TO PEKING:
CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: 1991 ELECTIONS
1. THANK YOU FOR THIS IMMEDIATE READOUT OF THE MEETING WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
2. I HAVE A MEETING WITH A SMALL GROUP OF SENIOR ADVISERS TOMORROW (5 JANUARY) TO GO OVER PREPARATIONS FOR MY PEKING VISIT. CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT IS CLEARLY A KEY PART OF THE VISIT. WE CANNOT SENSIBLY DISCUSS HOW TO HANDLE THE MATTER WITHOUT SOME INDICATION OF HOW LONDON IS REACTING TO EARLIER RECOMMENDATIONS FROM HERE. ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE WILL HAVE DONE HIS OVERNIGHT THINKING, COULD YOU PLEASE LET ME HAVE BY TOMORROW MORNING A TELEGRAM IN THE SECRET AND PERSONAL SERIES INDICATING WHERE MINISTERIAL THINKING HAS GOT TO.
3. SINCE THE SECRETARY OF STATE WILL BE CONSULTING THE PRIME MINISTER, WHATEVER INDICATIONS YOU SEND OF MINISTERIAL THINKING CANNOT OF COURSE BE THE FINAL WORD. BUT IT WILL AT LEAST GIVE US SOMETHING TO WHICH WE CAN REACT IF THERE ARE FURTHER IMPORTANT POINTS WHICH NEED TO BE DISCUSSED BETWEEN US BEFORE I LEAVE FOR PEKING. AS YOU WILL REALISE, TIMING IS NOW EXTREMELY TIGHT. IF THE PRIME MINISTER IS CONSULTED OVER THE WEEKEND, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET CONSIDERED MINISTERIAL VIEWS TO ME UNTIL THE MORNING OF TUESDAY 9 JANUARY WITH NO TIME FOR ME TO COME BACK TO YOU BEFORE I HAVE TO CONSULT EXCO ON TUESDAY MORNING, AND PRECIOUS LITTLE TIME AFTER THAT BEFORE I LEAVE FOR PEKING ON THE MORNING OF WEDNESDAY 10 JANUARY.
WILSON
YYYY
HMLNAN 4572
Lo
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