CONFIDENTIAL
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CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 24083OZ FCO
TELNO 2553
OF 240507Z OCTOBER 92
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
за
167203
MDHIAN 4782
FOR RESIDENT CLERK, PLEASE PASS TO HUM, AUSS AND RICKETTS, HKD
CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: EXCHANGE OF SINO-BRITISH MESSAGES PRIOR TO THE ADOPTION OF THE BASIC LAW.
1. WHEN BRIEFING LEGCO ON 24 OCTOBER ON MY PEKING VISIT, I WAS ASKED WHETHER I WOULD AGREE TO MAKE AVAILABLE TO THE COUNCIL THE EXCHANGE OF MESSAGES BETWEEN THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS PRIOR TO THE ADOPTION OF THE BASIC LAW. THE QUESTION WAS OF COURSE PROMPTED BY LU PING'S CLAIM OF SECRET AGREEMENTS. THE MESSAGES ARE THOSE BETWEEN THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND QIAN OF JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1990.
2. I SAID THAT RELEASE WOULD BE A MATTER FOR THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS, BUT THERE WOULD BE NO OBJECTION FROM THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG.
3. THE PRESS WILL NO DOUBT PURSUE THIS POINT WITH YOU. I SUGGEST THAT YOU GIVE HOLDING REPLIES OVER THE WEEKEND. I WILL SEND RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE WAY FORWARD ON 26 OCTOBER.
PATTEN
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
64
.HK POLICY
HKD
PUSD
FED
LEGAL ADVISERS//MS BROOKS
LEGAL ADVISERS//MS BARRETT
DISTRIBUTION
73
PLANNERS
RAD
PS
PS/MR GOODLAD
SIR J COLES
MR APPLEYARD
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