CONFIDENTIAL

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1.9 Consti 163

Dept.

004063

MDHOAN 3350

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO DESKBY 30010OZ HONG KONG

TELNO 1540

OF 291751Z OCTOBER 92

ним Hurs azz

TOP COPY Q DIST?

AND TO DESKBY 30010OZ UKREP JLG HONG KONG, PEKING

INFO DESKBY 30010OZ MANILA

V.

PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM HUM, AUSS

UKREP JLG PERSONAL FOR GALSWORTHY PEKING PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR

MANILA PERSONAL FOR PS/MR GOODLAD

Ws

thes 017/8

YOUR TELNO 2575: CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: THE WAY AHEAD

1.

Hus a7/4 MINISTERS WERE GRATEFUL FOR THE THOUGHTS ON THE WAYS FORWARD IN YOUR TUR: AND ALSO TO SIR R MCLAREN FOR HIS ASSESSMENT OF CHINESE STRATEGY IN PEKING TELNOS 1472 AND 1500:

HWB 07/6 (125

future section

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2. FOR THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE, THE SECRETARY OF STATE AGREES THAT CONTACT WITH THE CHINESE SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED ON JLG CHANNELS, AS YOU PROPOSE IN PARA 7 OF YOUR TUR, TO INDICATE THAT WE ARE READY TO MEET WHENEVER THE CHINESE WISH (WE NOTE THAT THIS POINT HAS ALREADY BEEN MADE PUBLIC - YOUR TELNO 2582). THIS SHOULD HELP TO BOLSTER OUR TACTICAL POSITION. BUT WE IMAGINE THAT THE CHINESE WILL EITHER STONEWALL ON A MEETING OR USE ONE TO REPEAT LU PING'S POINT'S AND TO SAY THAT IT IS NOT FOR THEM TO PUT FORWARD

COUNTER-PROPOSALS.

3.

FOR Alkc 017/4-(12

LOOKING SLIGHTLY FURTHER AHEAD, THE SECRETARY OF STATE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY OF YOUR VISIT HERE IN MID-NOVEMBER TO HAVE A COLLECTIVE MINISTERIAL DISCUSSION ABOUT THE WAY AHEAD (THE PAPER REFERRED TO IN YOUR TELNO 2584 WILL BE VERY HELPFUL TO US IN PREPARING FOR THIS). THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS SUGGESTING TO THE PRIME MINISTER A MEETING OF OPD (K). THE ONLY POSSIBILITY FOR THIS DURING THE WEEK IN TERMS OF THE DIARIES OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE WILL BE 1000 ON 18 NOVEMBER: WE HAVE BOOKED THIS SLOT IN YOUR PROGRAMME WITH THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE. IN ADVANCE OF THAT MEETING, THE SECRETARY OF STATE WOULD WELCOME A GOOD TALK WITH YOU AND SIR R MCLAREN. WOULD THEREFORE BE GRATEFUL IF SIR R MCLAREN COULD ARRANGE TO RETURN TO LONDON FOR THAT PURPOSE. SUBJECT TO CONFIRMATION, THE DISCUSSION IS LIKELY TO BE AT 1600 ON 16 NOVEMBER, USING ALL OR

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