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ATTENDANCE WITH HIM AND WE ARE AGREED THAT HE SHOULD STAY IN HONG KONG.
4. I CAN AGREE TO OUR TELLING THE CHINESE THAT THE DETAILS OF TALKS SHOULD REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL. BUT THEY SHOULD ALSO BE TOLD THAT IF THEY BRIEF THE PRESS (LIKE LAST WEEKEND) ON THE CONTENT OF THE TALKS, I SHALL HAVE NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO BRIEF LEGCO.
5. IF WE CAN SECURE CHINESE AGREEMENT TO AN ANNOUNCEMENT ON 17 FEBRUARY, IT WILL FORMALLY BE FOR HMG TO MAKE. BUT I PLAN MYSELF TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT TO LEGCO THAT AFTERNOON AS WELL AND TO TAKE 15 MINUTES OF QUESTIONS. IN ORDER TO PREVENT LIBERAL SUSPICIONS OF A LIKELY SLIDE/SELL-OUT IT IS IMPORTANT THIS IS DONE BY ME PERSONALLY. I IMAGINE THAT WE WOULD NOT WISH TO TELL THE CHINESE OF THIS BEFORE THEY AGREE TO AN ANNOUNCEMENT: A RISK WOULD OTHERWISE EXIST OF THEIR SPINNING MATTERS OUT UNTIL
AFTER LEGCO'S MEETING.
6. WE ARE PREPARED Q AND A MATERIAL FOR ME TO USE IN LEGCO. IT WILL BE FAXED TO YOU AND PEKING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
7. I HAVE SET UP A MEETING WITH MARTIN LEE AFTER EXCO ON 16 FEBRUARY. I WILL OF COURSE STAY CLOSELY IN TOUCH WITH HIM ON AN INFORMAL AND CONFIDENTIAL BASIS THROUGHOUT THE TALKS.
8. WE PLAN TO BRIEF CONSUL-GENERALS ON THE AFTERNOON OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT. THE GENERAL LINE WILL BE THAT THE CHINESE HAVE DROPPED THEIR DEMAND FOR ME TO WITHDRAW MY PROPOSALS AS A PRE- CONDITION OF TALKS BUT THAT OUR PRINCIPLES OF OPENNESS, FAIRNESS AND ACCEPTABILITY TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG STILL STAND. WE HAVE GOT TO THIS POSITION BECAUSE OF THE SUPPORT FOR MY PROPOSALS FROM THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE AND FROM MANY IN LEGCO AND BECAUSE EXCO PUT THE SEAL ON THEM FOR TRANSMISSION TO LEGCO IN THEIR ORIGINAL FORM. WE WILL NOT BE FORWARDING THEM UNTIL WE SEE WHETHER AN UNDERSTANDING IS POSSIBLE IN THE TALKS. BUT THESE CANNOT DRAG ON INDEFINITELY. LEGCO NEEDS TO ENACT LEGISLATION THIS SESSION.
9. I HOPE THE AMBASSADOR CAN COME DOWN TO HONG KONG BEFORE THE START OF THE TALKS. I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS MATTERS PERSONALLY WITH HIM AND IT WOULD ALSO BE BENEFICIAL PUBLICLY HERE IF HE WAS TO VISIT FOR CONSULTATIONS.
10. I SUGGEST THAT WE SET A LIMIT OF 4 DAYS FOR A FIRST ROUND OF TALKS IN PEKING. THE EXPERIENCE OF THE AIRPORT TALKS HIGHLIGHTS
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