TNAG-1284-FCO40-1636-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 69

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WHERE OUR OWN BEST INTERESTS LIE BEFORE WE GO PUBLIC OR BEFORE WE

DISCUSS THE MATTER WITH THE CHINESE.

2. MIFT CONTAINS THE FIRST DRAFT OF A PAPER ON THIS SUBJECT. WE HAVE NOT HAD TIME TO TAKE ALL YOUR AND THE AMBASSADOR'S POINTS

INTO ACCOUNT, ALTHOUGH SOME OF THEM ARE DEALT WITH. IT WOULD

BE VERY HELPFUL IF YOUR FURTHER COMMENTS COULD BE IN THE FORM

OF A CRITIQUE OF THIS PAPER. (IF POSSIBLE DESKBY 201200Z)

WHATEVER OUR CONCLUSIONS, I AM

SURE WE NEED TO SET OUT THE OPTIONS CLEARLY AND DISCUSS THE PROS

AND CONS OF EACH.

3. YOU WILL SEE REFERENCE TO THE JOINT GROUP (ITEM 2) IN THE DRAFT

PAPER. WE SHALL BE SENDING YOU OUR THOUGHTS ON THE HANDLING OF THIS

KEY QUESTIONS SHORTLY.

4. TIMING. MINISTERIAL TIMETABLES ARE PUTTING US UNDER SOME

PRESSURE. IF POSSIBLE IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL TO HAVE YOUR REDRAFTED GREEN PAPER (OR AMENDMENTS TO PREVIOUS DRAFT) BY 21130OZ.

HOWE

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SIR W HARDING

COPIES TO

SIR P CRADOCK

MR BURROWS

LEGAL ADVISER

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