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DETAILED COMMENTS
1. Paragraph 2. I am not quite sure what all the fuss is about on the question of telling the Chinese, as by the time this goes to cos, we will have already confirmed the withdrawal of the first battalion and if necessary
the withdrawal of the
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three remaining patrol craft. And why do we talk about "publication"? This will surely remain a classified document, with individual decisions being made public as they are confirmed by Ministers.
2. Paragraph 8. Amend second sentence to read:
"...is guaranteed for 50 years in a document...'
3. Paragraph 9. Amend last sentence to read:
✓
"...facilities currently used by..."
4. Paragraph 10. Delete "and sinister" from the sixth
sentence.
5. Paragraph 12. Transfer first sentence to end of paragraph 10. The rest can be deleted in the interests of brevity.
6. Paragraph 15. In the third sentence, substitute "could" for "would". Add a further sentence:
"To some extent these pressures have reappeared in 1991."
7. Paragraph 18. Will need updating to take account of what we say to the Chinese about the first battalion and (possibly) the patrol craft.
8. Paragraph 23. Delete from "Meanwhile.." to the end of the paragraph. The bit about challenges at sea is otiose in that the decision on the patrol craft will have been taken, and the rest is covered later in the paper.
9. Paragraph 24. Delete the last sentence.
10. Paragraph 25. Amend first sentence to read:
"...composition to act effectively in support of the HKG and demonstrate HMG's sovereignty, the events of 1989..."
11. Paragraph 29. Amend third sentence to read:
"...to contain unrest and in extreme circumstances the use of garrison troops to bolster the police could not be ruled out."
Delete the fourth sentence.
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