GRS 500
SECKET
DESKBY 16100OZ
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SECRET
TOP COPY
FROM PEKING 160925Z MAR 94
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 498 OF 16/3/84
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
HKK040 BL
RECEIVED THE PASTRY
1913 104
DUSK OFFICER
INDEX
INTAY
19
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YOUR TELNOS 227 AND 828:
FUTURE OF HONG KONG:
FOREIGN AFFAIRS DEBATE
1. I HAVE DISCUSSED THE DRAFT PASSAGE IN YOUR SECOND TUR WITH THE GOVERNOR. WE THINK THAT A STATEMENT ON THESE LINES WOULD BE HELPFUL IN HONG KONG AND, SUBJECT TO
ONE OR TWO AMENDMENTS, WOULD NOT CAUSE TOO MUCH DIFFICULTY WITH THE CHINESE. THE GOVERNOR WOULD CERTAINLY WISH TO SHOW THE FINAL TEXT TO EXCO IN ADVANCE AND WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR INSTRUCTIONS
HE DOES NOT TO DO SO IN TIME FOR THE MEETING ON 20 MARCH. BELIEVE THAT THERE WILL BE ANY DISPOSITION IN THE COUNCIL TO ARGUE THAT SUCH A STATEMENT WOULD PREEMPT ANYTHING WHICH THE S OF S NIGHT SAY IN HONG KONG NEXT MONTH. CONTRARY, THEY ARE LIKELY TO WELCOME IT: PARTICULAR HAS ADVOCATED AN EARLIER START TO THE UNVEILING**
PROCESS.
2. OUR DETAILED COMMENTS ARE :-
ON THE
SIR S Y CHUNG IN
**IN OUR
(1) PARA 2 THIRD SENTENCE. THE CHINESE WOULD BE LESS LIKELY TO TAKE EXCEPTION IF THIS WAS AMENDED TO BEGIN: DISCUSSION WITH THE CHINESE WE ARE CONTINUING TO LOOK
REALISTICALLY.
(11) PARA 2 FOURTH SENTENCE. WE SUGGEST A MORE PRECISE FORMUL- ATION: ''WE ARE LOOKING FOR AN ARRANGEMENT WHICH IS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF HONG KONG". THE NEXT SENTENCE MIGHT THEN STOP AFTER '' ....SATISFACTORY NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT.
111) PARA 3 SIXTH SENTENCE. THERE MIGHT BE ADVANTAGE IN GIVING A CLEARER INDICATION OF THE TIMING OF THE S OF S' VISIT DY AMENDING THIS SENTENCE TO READ: KONG MYSELF IN THE SECOND HALF OF APRIL. THE VISIT TO PEKING COULD BE ADDED IF THE HAVE BY THEN BEEN AGREED WITH THE CHINESE.
SECRET
''I HOPE TO VISIT HONG
A REFERENCE TO VISIT AND ITS TIMING
/ (iv)
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