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162457
MDHIAN 9658
THE DANGER OF OPEN-ENDED DISCUSSIONS. THE FIRST ROUND MIGHT THUS BE FROM 24-27 FEBRUARY. THE OBJECTIVE AT THAT ROUND WOULD BE TO AVOID THEORY TO THE GREATEST EXTENT POSSIBLE, OBTAIN DETAILED CHINESE PROPOSALS IN THE TWO CONTENTIOUS AREAS, AND PRESS THE CHINESE FOR THEIR THINKING ON OBJECTIVES 3 5 IN MY TELNO 228. OBTAINING A CHINESE COMMITMENT THAT THERE WILL BE A PROPER THROUGH TRAIN (OBJECTIVE 3) WILL BE ESSENTIAL FOR COMMENDING ANY PACKAGE TO LEGCO.
11. TWO OTHER THOUGHTS ON SUBSTANCE NOT COVERED IN EARLIER TELEGRAMS:
WE SHOULD LET LEGCO PROCESS THE BOUNDARY AND ELECTION COMMISSION BILL IN THE NORMAL MANNER NOW THAT IT HAS BEEN INTRODUCED TO THE COUNCIL.
THERE SHOULD BE NO MENTION OF THE AIRPORT THROUGHOUT THE TALKS. WE WANT TO GIVE NO GROUND TO THE CHINESE TO BELIEVE
THAT THIS IS A LEVER FOR THEM.
12. THANK YOU FOR YOUR DRAFT PAPER OF POINTS TO REBUT CHINESE ARGUMENTS. WE WILL SEND YOU COMMENTS ON THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. WE ARE ALSO WORKING ON HOW FAR THE NEGOTIATORS MIGHT EVENTUALLY GO IN THE TWO CONTENTIOUS AREAS AND WILL SEND YOU OUR THINKING ON
THIS SOON.
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LEGAL ADVISERS//MS BARRETT
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