SECRET
105133
MDHIAN 08
NCNA, HONG KONG BRANCH). WHO IS A MEMBER OF THE CHINESE TEAM, THAT HKG WOULD, AS REQUESTED, DEFER THE ANNOUNCEMENT TO ALLOW THEM MORE TIME FOR PREPARATION, WHICH WE EXPECT THEM TO COMPLETE BY AROUND MID-APRIL. HKG WOULD THEN ANNOUNCE THE FIGURES FAIRLY SOON THEREAFTER. THE CHINESE SIDE SHOULD KEEP THE MATTER STRICTLY TO THEMSELVES PRIOR TO OFFICIAL HKG ANNOUNCEMENT. (WE HAVE NOT YET TAKEN A VIEW ON WHETHER WE SHOULD WAIT UNTIL JULY AND PUBLISH THE FIGURES UP TO END-1991 OR WE SHOULD PUBLISH THE 1986-90 FIGURES IN APRIL FOLLOWED BY THE 1991 FIGURES IN JULY, ALTHOUGH PRESENTLY INCLINED TO THE LATTER TIMING. WE THEREFORE PREFER TO KEEP IT SLIGHTLY VAGUE IN TALKING TO THE CHINESE.)
5. A NATURAL OPPORTUNITY OF APPROACHING CHEN KE-QIANG WILL ARISE SHORTLY WHEN THE WRITTEN DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW HSBC AND STANDARD CHARTERED BANK NOTE DESIGNS IS READY FOR HANDING OVER.
6. GRATEFUL FOR YOUR EARLY COMMENTS.
WILSON
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ΜΑΙΝ
23
DISTRIBUTION
31
HK CONFIDENTIAL FINANCIAL
(DIALOGUE)
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/ERD
HD/FED
HD/PUSD
HD/ECONOMIC ADVISERS
PS
PS/LORD CAITHNESS
PS/PUS
SIR J COLES
MR BURNS
ADDITIONAL
8
MR WYE RAD
SIR P CRADOCK NO 10.
MR WIGHTMAN CABINET OFFICE
MR A CROCKETT BANK OF ENGLAND
MR C ELSTON BANK OF ENGLAND
MR O PAGE BANK OFENGLAND
MR P GRAY HMT
MR J P MCINTYRE HMT
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