this would suit you best of all. I would therefore
suggest that your consultation with ExCo on the tenth
should be informal. If you then conclude that ExCo
will support either of your options, as explained above
we would put this to Ministers, with the other
possibilities.
This would get the new relationship
off on the right footing, since, although we would set
out the merits of the Creech Jones formula, your fall-
back options would demonstrate that Hong Kong accepts
the relevance of UK political considerations.
9.
If however ExCo are unable to agree, we shall
be in the situation that you fear, of having to say to
Ministers at a very early stage of their administration
that we have reached a case where it is difficult to
find any grounds for a reprieve, and where the only
practical options are to support you; to use the
residual power of mercy; or to change the law in London,
with all that these choices imply.
10.
We will delay a formal submission to Ministers
until we hear from you on the open net, though the
subject has already been mentioned in our preliminary
briefs. We will of course bear in mind your suggestion
of a visit. My present assessment is that this would be
premature.
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