CONFIDENTIAL
HKB CIO
RECEIVED
15
2 3 DEC 1991
20
14
131401 MDHIAN 7110
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 3905
OF 200827Z DECEMBER 91
DESK OFFICE
INDEX
کو مسلم
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JEG HONG KONG
PERSONAL FOR RICKETTS, HKD FROM GOVERNOR
12
YRTELNO 2171: MY MEETING WITH LU PING
TOP COPY Q DIST?
а
p.a.
Principal
officials.
1. WE WILL BE DISCUSSING A SERIES OF PAPERS ON THE QUESTION OF PRINCIPAL OFFICIALS AT A MEETING ON 2 JANUARY. THESE PAPERS, WHICH ARE CURRENTLY BEING DRAFTED, WILL, INTER ALIA, SET OUT OUR THINKING ON THE WAY FORWARD ON THIS SUBJECT.
2. PENDING THAT DISCUSSION, IT IS DIFFICULT TO BE PRECISE ABOUT WHAT I WILL WISH TO COVER WITH LU. I WOULD NOT WANT TO ENTER INTO ANY SUBSTANTIVE DISCUSSION WITH HIM WITHOUT MINISTERIAL APPROVAL, BUT IT MIGHT BE SENSIBLE TO GIVE HIM SOME KIND OF INDICATION OF THE SORT OF TIME FRAME THAT WE HAVE IN MIND FOR SUCH DISCUSSIONS. WE WILL LET YOU SEE A DRAFT OF THE PAPER BEFORE THE MEETING ON 2 JANUARY, AND SEND A TELEGRAM THAT DAY WITH IDEAS ON WHAT I MIGHT SAY TO LU PING.
3. I WILL ALSO WISH TO TRY TO TEASE OUT ANY IDEAS THAT THE CHINESE HAVE ON THIS SUBJECT, BY ASKING IF THEY HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR REACTIONS FOLLOWING THE BRIEFINGS ON THE CIVIL SERVICE THAT WE GAVE TO CHEN ZIYING. THE CHINESE ARE OF COURSE LIKELY TO BE KEEN TO INVOLVE THEMSELVES IN SOME FORM OF JOINT SELECTION BEFORE 1997.
WE
ARE FAXING SEPARATELY TO YOU AND PEKING A NOTE OF THEIR MEETING.
WILSON
Redacted Under FOI
Exemption Sec 27(1)
YYYY
1
PAGE CONFIDENTIAL