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MDHOA 7936
MINISTERS THE STARKNESS OF THE CHOICES THEY FACE. ANY MORE
CRYSTAL-BALL GAZING THAT CAN BE DONE EG ON THE EFFECT ON THE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY OF THE POLICE (PARA 6) WOULD OBVIOUSLY BE USEFUL IN STRENGTHENING THIS CASE FURTHER. FINALLY, CAN I PRESS YOU A LITTLE MORE ON THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF ANY SCHEME TO HOLD ONTO KEY OFFICERS? CLEARLY DISCRIMINATING IN FAVOUR OF EXPATRIATES WOULD BE UNPALATABLE. BUT WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO OFFER SIMILAR SPECIAL CONTRACTS TO SOME KEY LOCAL STAFF WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE CONSIDER QUITTING? IF EXCO AND FINANCE COMMITTEE WERE TO REALISE THAT MINISTERS HAD (HYPOTHETICALLY) FIRMLY CONCLUDED THAT HONG KONG WAS ON ITS OWN, WOULD THEY REALLY BE PREPARED TO WATCH THE EROSION
OF
FOR EXAMPLE, THE POLICE WITHOUT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT?
GIVEN THE STATE OF THE DEBATE IN WHITEHALL I FRANKLY SEE
LITTLE PROSPECT OF OUR BEING ABLE TO GIVE SCS SOMETHING
QUOTE POSITIVE AND SUBSTANTIAL UNQUOTE TO SAY ON 28 JANUARY. BUT AGAIN WE CAN DISCUSS THIS NEXT WEEK.
MURD
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MAIN
7
DISTRIBUTION
7
NO DISTRIBUTION
HD/HKD
HD/RMD
PS/LORD CAITHNESS
PS/PUS
SIR J COLES
MR MUIR
MR BURNS
NNNN
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