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121423
MDHIAN 2945
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FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 888
OF 011143Z JUNE 93
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
PART ONE OF TWO PARTS
EXCO, 1 JUNE: CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
SUMMARY
•
1 I OUTLINED THE BROAD SHAPE OF THE SORT OF AGREEMENT WE MIGHT AIM FOR. EXCO MEMBERS CONTENT, THEY ALSO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE STRATEGY OF PRESSING THE CHINESE TO PUT ALL THEIR PROPOSALS ON THE TABLE BEFORE WE MOVE INTO ACTIVE NEGOTIATION. SUPPORT FOR A MESSAGE FROM YOU TO GIVE IMPETUS TO THE TALKS ALTHOUGH I DID NOT GO INTO DETAILS ON THIS.
DETAIL
2. I SAID THAT AT THE COUNCIL'S MEETING LAST WEEK MEMBERS HAD AGREED THAT WE SHOULD PRESS THE CHINESE TO PUT FORWARD THEIR PROPOSALS ON ALL ISSUES BEFORE WE JUDGED HOW WE MIGHT REACH AN AGREEMENT. I STILL THOUGHT THAT THIS NEGOTIATING STRATEGY WAS RIGHT. BUT I SUGGESTED THAT WITHIN THE COUNCIL WE MIGHT TAKE A FIRST LOOK, WITH MR GOODLAD PRESENT, AT HOW WE SHOULD PROCEED ONCE WE KNOW ALL THE CHINESE IDEAS.
3. MR GOODLAD SAID THAT HMG WERE FOLLOWING THE TALKS CLOSELY. HE WELCOMED THE OPPORTUNITY FOR CLOSE AND FRANK CONSULTATION WITH MEMBERS OF EXCO. THIS WAS ALL THE MORE IMPORTANT IF WE SOON REACHED THE POINT WHERE WE COULD TRY TO STRIKE A DEAL. IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO PROVIDE A CLEAR INSIGHT ON WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE CHINESE LEADERSHIP BUT WE DID BELIEVE THAT THE CHINESE WANTED A SOLUTION TO THE DIFFICULTIES OF THE PAST FEW MONTHS. IT HAD BEEN ENCOURAGING TO SEE SOME SIGNS OF MOVEMENT ON ECONOMIC ISSUES AND THE AIRPORT. WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO NEGOTIATE SERIOUSLY ON THE ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS. MR GOODLAD SAID THAT THE CABINET FULLY SUPPORTED MY POLICIES. THERE WAS ALSO BROAD SUPPORT FOR THEM AT WESTMINSTER ALTHOUGH THE OPPOSITION HAD PUT DOWN A MARKER THAT MY PROPOSALS FOR THE 1995 ELECTIONS DID NOT GO FAR ENOUGH. IT WOULD NOT BE EASY THEREFORE TO WIN WESTMINSTER'S SUPPORT FOR CHANGES TO THEM. BUT IF AGREEMENT WITH CHINA WAS SUPPORTED AND SEEN TO BE SUPPORTED IN HONG KONG. MR GOODLAD HOPED THAT WESTMINSTER WOULD
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