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SECRET
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the attendance at a number of public events held
during the visit
indicated a high level of
interest in Hong
Kong affairs among British
politicians, business leaders and journalists.
2.
Cabinet
Ministers
of talks
but had
With regard to the meeting of the
Committee on Hong Kong, the Governor said
felt that progress after fifteen rounds
was slower than they would have liked
expressed interest in the proposals made
fifteen on the through train and the
of concluding a first-stage agreement
discussing the more difficult issues.
at round
possibility
prior to
The view of the Committee was that there was some
merit in seeking such an agreement provided it
covered the Legislative Council, the District
Boards and the Municipal Councils. Ministers,
December and
while noting that such an agreement might gain a
little time, also felt that discussion of the
issue should not be allowed to drag on into
beyond. It was their view that if
were sincere about their expressed
intention of concluding an overall agreement they
should not have great difficulty in agreeing to a
agreement which was consistent with
the Chinese
first-stage
the contents of the memorandum of understanding