15 April 1993
mmonwealth
Mffice
111011
AH
HONG KONG
My letter of 7 April gave an update on recent developments on relations with China ahead of the Prime Minister's lunch with the Governor on 13 April. You may like a further brief sitrep before the Prime Minister's meeting with the Foreign Secretary and the Governor of Hong Kong on 16 April. I am writing separately about arrangements for Her Majesty's Overseas Civil Servants.
The Chinese have now agreed to talks on the arrangements for the 1994/95 elections in Hong Kong. The talks will begin on 22 April in Peking and the first round should last for 3 to 4 days. This news has been well received across the board here, in Hong Kong, and internationally.
The Foreign Secretary will be discussing tactics for those talks at a meeting with the Governor and Sir R McLaren earlier on 16 April, and the meeting with the Prime Minister will provide an opportunity to report on the conclusions of the earlier meeting. As background, you may like to have to hand the enclosed checklist we have prepared for those discussions.
Roderic Lyne Esq CMG 10 Downing Street
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(J S Smith)
Private Secretary