TNAG-1314-FCO40-1696-Working-papers-for-use-at-talks-on-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 96

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EXPLAIN THIS TO EXCO AND TO POINT OUT THAT IF WE CAN COVER THE

FIRST TWO CENTRAL ISSUES PAPERS SOON THEY WILL HAVE MORE TIME TO

CONSIDER THE OTHER QUESTIONS LATER ON.

4. I CAN OF COURSE SEE THE NEED FOR VERY CAREFUL HANDLING OF

EXCO. THIS COULD BE MET BY PUTTING THE IDEA TO THEM WITH A

MEASURE OF FLEXIBILITY ON TIMING. I HOPE THAT IT WOULD BE

POSSIBLE TO ARRANGE A SPECIAL MEETING NOT LATER THAN 10 FEBRUARY

AND TO GET EXCO'S COMMENTS TO US IN TIME FOR MINISTERS TO

CONSIDER THEM OVER THE WEEKEND. THIS SHOULD ENABLE US TO PUT

PAPERS TO THE CHINESE EARLY IN THE FOLLOWING WEEK. THAT IN TURN

WOULD SHOW PEKING THAT WE WERE MOVING EXPEDITIOUSLY WITHOUT

BOWING TO THEIR PRECISE DEADLINE OF 10 FEBRUARY.

HOWE

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

LIMITED

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