CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 248
OF 121701Z MAR 93
CONFIDENTIAL
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AND TO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KON
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ра.
HEB 012/1
Con. seypt
057010
MDHOAN 0142
184
RECE IN REGISTRY
17 MAR 1993
...A
PA
REGISTRY
Action Taken
Ines.
HONG KONG: SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE MEETING
1.
The Secretary of State is holding a meeting with Mr Goodlad and officials on the afternoon of 15 March to take a more strategic Look at Hong Kong policy than is possible on the basis of our daily submissions. This is now particularly timely given the events of the last week.
2. It would be very helpful to have any thoughts from addressees on the main issues which now arise. We have listed these for the Secretary of State under the following headings:
- Immediate reactions to the publication of the legislation, in Hong Kong and from China.
- Chinese options (in particular whether to take further measures against Hong Kong, whether to dig-in for a long haul or resume discussions with us after an interval) and whether reaction will be confined to relations with us over Hong Kong or spread more widely).
Decisions which we and the Governor will need to take in the weeks ahead, particularly over the introduction of legislation into LegCo: the handling of LegCo and contacts with the Chinese including the question of a meeting with Qian.
- The Longer-term implications of a return to confrontation with China, particularly for the airport, the JLG and other areas in which we need Chinese cooperation such as contracts and franchises.
3.
There are, no doubt, other points. We will not have time to go into great detail on individual issues. But we would welcome general comments on these issues and the way ahead.
1
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