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MDHOAM 160
INDIVIDUAL PRINCIPAL OFFICIALS. AS YOU KNOW, THE GENERAL VIEW HERE IS THAT WE SHOULD LEAVE THIS UNTIL A GOOD DEAL NEARER 1997. BUT WE SHOULD CLEARLY NOT DELAY CONSULTATIONS WITH THE CHINESE TO THE POINT WHERE THOSE WHO SAW THEMSELVES AS POTENTIAL FUTURE SENIOR OFFICIALS FELT DISCOURAGED FROM ESTABLISHING THEIR OWN LINKS WITH THE CHINESE. A DIFFICULT BALANCE TO STRIKE.
4.
"
BUT
ON PARA 9 THE OVERRIDING BRITISH OBJECTIVES AS SEEN FROM HERE ARE EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION UP TO 1997 AND A SMOOTH TRANSITION. IDEALLY THAT WOULD INVOLVE MAXIMUM CONTINUITY, THE MORE THIS POINT IS STRESSED WITH THE CHINESE, THE MORE IT SOUNDS LIKE BRITAIN TRYING TO MAINTAIN HER INFLUENCE.
5. WE AGREE GENERALLY WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN PARAS 10 AND 11, PARTICULARLY THAT WE SHOULD NOT GET OURSELVES INTO THE POSITION OF DEMANDEUR WITH THE CHINESE. THE TIMING OF MOVING ON FROM VERY BROAD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE CIVIL SERVICE TO ANYTHING APPROACHING QUOTE JOINT SELECTION UNQUOTE WILL OBVIOUSLY NEED VERY CAREFUL CONSIDERATION.
HURD
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
24
DISTRIBUTION
24
LIMITED
HKD
FED
PS/LORD CAITHNESS
SIR J COLES
MR BURNS
MS BROOKS, LEGAL ADVISERS MR WYE, RAD
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