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TELNO 294
OF 231045Z FEBRUARY 93
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INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
fa
(74)
004215 MDHIAN 0676
CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: EXCO, 23 FEBRUARY.
SUMMARY
1. THE COUNCIL ADVISED THAT WE SHOULD PRESS LU PING VERY HARD TODAY TO LET US KNOW ONE WAY OR ANOTHER WHEN WE WILL GET A REPLY. HE SHOULD BE REMINDED OF OUR PUBLIC POSITION THAT WE PLAN TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION BEFORE THE END OF THE MONTH.
2.
NO AGREEMENT THAT WE SHOULD TELL LU NOW OF A 5 MARCH DEADLINE. IF NO REPLY HAS BEEN RECEIVED BY THE EVENING OF 25 FEBRUARY THE COUNCIL WILL REVIEW THE SITUATION.
DETAIL
3.
THE POLITICAL ADVISER BRIEFED THE COUNCIL ON THE 18 FEBRUARY MEETING BETWEEN WANG FENGCHAO AND COX. HE SAID THAT LU PING HAD DENIED SAYING NO TO ATV'S QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER THERE WOULD BE TALKS SOON. THE CHINESE HAD THEMSELVES NOW PUT OUT THIS DENIAL (IT IS REPORTED IN THE CHINESE LANGUAGE PRESS TODAY).
4.
I SAID THAT THERE WERE 3 OPTIONS OPEN TO THE COUNCIL:
(A) INDEFINITE DELAY. IF WE DECIDED ON THAT WE SHOULD HAVE LITTLE CREDIBILITY LEFT. WOULD THE CHINESE SUBSEQUENTLY BELIEVE WE HAD ANY FIRMNESS OF PURPOSE IN TALKS QUERY. DELAY WOULD ALSO IMPEDE THE ENACTMENT OF LEGISLATION IN TIME.
(B) GAZETTE ON 26 FEBRUARY. IT COULD BE ARGUED THAT WE HAD SHOWN SINCERITY BY DELAYING GAZETTING FOR 2 WEEKS ALREADY. IF GAZETTING THIS WEEK WAS DECIDED UPON, THE AMBASSADOR SHOULD FOREWARN LU PING BUT SAY THAT WE STILL REMAINED READY TO TALK AT ANY TIME IF CHINA WANTED TO. THE DANGER WITH THIS COURSE WAS THAT WE MIGHT NOT CARRY THE PUBLIC WITH US.
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