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FROM: P F Ricketts
Hong Kong Department
DATE: 3 June 1992
cc: PS/Mr Patten
PS/Mr Goodlad
Sir J Coles
Mr Hum
Private Secretary Private
HONG KONG: POLICY ON CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
B
1.
The Private Secretary's minute of 2 June below.
2.
I recommend that we should still write to No 10 at this
stage for two reasons:
(i) if we have kept the Prime Minister up-to-date with the broader issues it will enable us to keep the briefing letter
for the Prime Minister's bilateral for the meeting with
Li Pang short and targeted.
It may therefore be useful to
ensure that the Prime Minister has the Foreign Secretary's
views as well.
(ii) we have an operational need to respond to the
Governor's request that he should be able to speak with Ministerial authority when he sees Chinese leaders in Peking on 6 and 7 June. The Governor's views will obviously carry greatest weight with the Chinese (and therefore be of most use in preparing the way for the Rio-bilateral) if they have the authority of the Prime Minister as well as the Foreign
Secretary.
3. I therefore submit a revised and shortened draft letter.
I have in particular amended the points for use by the
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