SECRET
10. WHEN THE FIRST TWO MEMBERS OF THE TEAM LEAVE ON THE EVENING OF 2ND DECEMBER, WE PROPOSE TO ANNOUNCE PUBLICLY THAT YOU, ACCOMPANIED BY THEM, WILL CONTINUE NEGOTIATIONS WITH MR RODGERS ON THE 4/5TH DECEMBER. THERE IS MERIT IN MAKING THE ANNOUNCEMENT AT THAT TIME SO
THAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG CAN APPRECIATE THAT WE ARE STILL DOING
EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO SECURE THE BEST POSSIBLE AGREEMENT FOR HONG
KONG AND THAT WE ARE NOT GIVING IN TOO READILY.
11. EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS ASKED THAT IT SHOULD BE INFORMED OF THE PROGRESS OF NEGOTIATIONS ON TUESDAY, 9TH DECEMBER BEFORE ANY PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT OF AGREEMENT IS MADE. FOR THIS REASON, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY BECAUSE IT IS DESIRABLE FOR THERE TO BE A REASONABLE INTERVAL BETWEEN THE RENEWAL OF NEGOTIATIONS AND THE PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT OF THEIR CONCLUSION, IT IS SUGGESTED THAT BOTH SIDES SHOULD AIM AT A SIMULTANEOUS ANNOUNCEMENT IN LONDON AND HONG KONG AT 0800 HOURS ON FRIDAY 12TH DECEMBER IN MUTUALLY AGREED TERMS.
12. EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ASKED ME TO STRESS THE IMPORTANCE WHICH THEY ATTACH TO THERE BEING NO LEAKS AS TO THE DETAILS OF THE DISCUSSIONS OR AS TO THE LIKELIHOOD OR FACT OF AN AGREEMENT BEING REACHED BEFORE THE AGREED DATE OF THE JOINT ANNOUNCEMENT.
ENDS.
ROBERTS
FILES
HKIOD (3)
DEF D
SIR D WATSON
MR MALE
MR LARMOUR
MR CORTAZZI
3
SECRET
"
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