SECRET
01117
RECEMON IN DECISTRY
OCT 1993
Ph. Elections
pn.
130414
MDHOAN 9063
رنامج
SECRET
FM FCO
IN
PA
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
REGISTRY
Taken
TELNO 872
OF 060804Z OCTOBER 93-
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
YRTELNO 1563 AND PEKING TELNO 1335: BOUNDARY AND ELECTION COMMISSION: REVISED DEADLINE
TOP COPY Q DIST?
1. We have consulted Mr Goodlad on TURS. He is content for you to seek ExCo's approval on 12 October to extend the submission deadline, and agrees that Peking should brief the Chinese on 13 October. (Despite the possibility of leaks, we do not believe that a delay of one day is likely to prejudice the likely Chinese reaction).
2.
Consistent with the need to disabuse the Chinese of any idea that our deadline for the talks is also being extended, we see some advantage in playing up the arguments that Peking cite in their para 1: ie that we are taking this action (a) with a prudent and responsible regard for the interests of Hong Kong taxpayers, and (b) in the spirit of cooperation, wishing not/not to prejudge the outcome of our talks with China (thus demonstrating our ''sincerity'1 etc). We do not expect to win much credit from the Chinese with this approach, but it should at least deny them the justification to accuse us of ''petty tricks'' (and provide us with some defensive ammunition should they do so).
3.
It follows from para 2 above that we agree with Peking that it would be better to defer gazettal of the remaining parts of the BEC Ordinance until after the talks have concluded. The Less excuse we give the Chinese to impugn our approach, the better (particularly if the talks fail).
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