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SECRET/FUTURE EGRET
kk 2854 11.3
2 9 JUNI:34
SECRET
FUTURE EGRET
FM FCO 26122OZ JUNE 84
TO IMMEDIATE PEKING
TELEGRAM NUMBER 654 OF 26 JUNE
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
FOLLOWING FOR GOVERNOR AND AMBASSADOR FROM PUS
HONG KONG TELNO 1712:
FUTURE EGRET:
PAPER FOR MINISTERS ON ITEM TWO
1. ON PROCEDURE, YOU CAN BE SURE THAT THE
ло
PAPER HAS BEEN CIRCULATED TO MINISTERS ON A BASIS WHICH
EXPLICITLY PROTECTS YOUR POSITION. THE SUBJECT WAS AIRED AT LENGTH AT THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE MEETING ON 22 JUNE WHEN HE CLEARLY RECOGNISED THAT YOU WOULD HAVE SERIOUS RESERVATIONS AND WOULD HAVE TO BE CONSULTED. THE SECRETARY OF
STATE CONSIDERED NEVERTHELESS THAT MINISTERS SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A FIRST ROUND ON THE QUESTION THIS WEEK. RELEVANT PASSAGE FROM THE COVERING MINUTE FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO THE PRIME MINISTER THEREFORE READS AS FOLLOWS:
2.
THE
'I SUGGEST THAT WE MIGHT HOLD A PRELIMINARY DISCUSSION OF THIS PAPER WHEN OD(K) MEETS ON 27 JUNE. THEREAFTER, AND
IN THE LIGHT OF DISCUSSION IN THE SUB-COMMITTEE ON CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND THE ROLE OF THE GOVERNOR IT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO REFINE OUR VIEWS ON THIS COMPLEX OF ISSUES IN CONSULTATION WITH THE GOVERNOR AND THE
AMBASSADOR IN PEKING. WE HAVE NOT AS YET SOUGHT ANY DETAILED INDICATION OF THEIR VIEWS: HOWEVER I BELIEVE THAT
WHILE THE AMBASSADOR WOULD BE GENERALLY IN AGREEMENT WITH OUR APPROACH THE GOVERNOR MIGHT SEE CONSIDERABLE
DIFFICULTIES.'
IT
ON SUBSTANCE, I DO NOT THINK THAT THE PAPER ' OVERSTATES THE
HINTS OF FLEXIBILITY BY RELATIVELY JUNIOR OFFICIALS'. DESCRIBES IN FACTUAL TERMS THE STRONG CIRCUMSTANTIAL HINTS OF
1
SECRET/FUTURE EGRET
1198
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