!
SECRET
DD 310100Z HONG KONG
GRS 391
SECRET
DESKBY 310100Z
FM FCO 301938Z JAN 84
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 171 OF 30 JANUARY
INFO PRIORITY PEKING
TOP 235-
35
16312 1
MKK040/11
RECEIVED IN REG STRY
DEN FICER
INDEX
امران
1:34
GEGISTHY
Actor Taken
у
C+1912
34
YOUR TELNO 234: FUTURE OF HONG KONG: WORKING PAPERS
1.
I UNDERSTAND THE DIFFICULTIES IN ASKING EXCO TO REVISE
THEIR PLANS. NEVERTHELESS, IN VIEW OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE
ISSUES INVOLVED, I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD HAVE ANOTHER LOOK AT THE POSSIBILITY OF AN EXTRA MEETING.
2.
I AGREE THAT THE ISSUES COVERED IN THE NEXT SERIES OF
WORKING PAPERS ARE PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT AND NEED CAREFUL
CONSIDERATION. THE TWO PAPERS MOST LIKELY TO BE COVERED, DEFENCE
AND INTERNAL SECURITY, AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE, ARE NOT
HOWEVER LIKELY TO BE THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL OF THE CENTRAL
ISSUES' BATCH. THE ISSUES INVOLVED IN THE FORMER PAPER WERE
CONSIDERED IN SOME DETAIL DURING THE UNOFFICIALS' DISCUSSION WITH
MR LUCE ON 17 JANUARY. I DO NOT THEREFORE THINK EXCO NEED FEEL
''RUSHED'' I AM CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN GET THE TWO PAPERS TO THEM
WITH PLENTY OF TIME FOR THEM TO CONSIDER BEFORE AN EXCO MEETING.
I HOPE YOU CAN AGREE, THEREFORE, TO ASK EXCO TO CONSIDER THE TWO
PAPERS SOON. IT WOULD BE LOGICAL TO EXPLAIN AN EXTRA MEETING AS
SHOWING THAT HMG AND EXCO WERE GETTING ON RESPONSIBLE WITH AN
IMPORTANT JOB.
3. I DO NOT THINK THAT WE NEED APPEAR TO BE GIVING IN TO
CHINESE PRESSURE OR TO BE DEMONSTRATING WEAKNESS. THE FACT IS
THAT, AS WE HAVE AGREED FOR SOME TIME, IT IS IN OUR OWN
INTERESTS TO GET WORKING PAPERS IN QUICKLY IN ORDER TO INFLUENCE
CHINESE THINKING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. WE ALSO HAVE AN INTEREST
IN AVOIDING A WHAT COULD BE A SERIOUS ROW WITH THE CHINESE UNLESS
WE HAVE GOOD REASON TO DO SO. I HOPE THAT YOU WOULD FEEL ABLE TO
1
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