CONFIDENTIAL
HKB 306/1
G
4
037532
MDHIAN 7207
CONFIDENTIAL
FM PEKING
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1731
OF 14080OZ OCTOBER 91
AND TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
INFO IMMEDIATE UKREP JLG HONG KONG
3
TOP COPY
HONG KONG TELNO 3182 AND F C O TELNO 1834.
RTHK BOARD OF GOVERNORS' BILL.
Q DIST?
(2
THE CHINESE WILL REGARD THE PROPOSED ACTION AS A SERIOUS ISSUE. WHILE THEY OUGHT TO WELCOME THE COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL BENEFITS TO BE GAINED FROM THE PROPOSED RESTRUCTURING (SET OUT IN FIRST TUR) THE FINANCIAL SAVINGS WILL BE LESS IMPORTANT TO THEM THAN THE POLITICAL/PROPAGANDA IMPLICATIONS. THEY WILL SEE THE PROPOSALS AS A DELIBERATE LOOSENING OF GOVERNMENTAL CONTROL OVER RTHK AND WILL INDEED SUSPECT OUR MOTIVES (PARA 12 OF FIRST T U R). FOR THIS REASON IT WOULD BE COUNTER PRODUCTIVE NOT TO PROVIDE THE CHINESE WITH FULL AND TIMELY BRIEFING. NOR SHOULD WE SEEK TO BLOCK FULL CONSULTATION THROUGH THE JLG AFTER HAVING GIVEN SUCH
BRIEFING IF THE CHINESE REQUEST IT.
MCLAREN.
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
60
.HONG KONG AGREEMENT
.(RESTRICTED)
LIMITED
HKD
PUSD
HD/FED
NEWS D
DISTRIBUTION
64
PLANNERS
RAD
PS/LORD CAITHNESS
PS/MR LENNOX-BOYD
SIR J COLES
MR BURNS
ADDITIONAL
PAGE 1 CONFIDENTIAL