TNAG-1330-FCO40-1757-Future-of-Hong-Kong-test-of-the-acceptability-of-the-Joint-D-1984 — Page 223

GRS228

SECRET

DESKBY 220100Z

FM FCO 21134OZ SEP 84

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

SECRET

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TELEGRAM NUMBER 1908 OF 21 SEPTEMBER

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

OUR TELNO 1842: FUTURE OF HONG KONG: TEST OF ACCEPTABILITY

1. WE DISCUSSED THIS BRIEFLY WITH THE GOVERNOR, AND HAVE NOW

DISCUSSED THE TIMING OF THE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE FURTHER WITH

THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

2. WE HAVE ESTABLISHED THAT IT IS EXTREMELY UNLIKELY TO BE

POSSIBLE TO HOLD A PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE IN THE SECOND WEEK OF

DECEMBER. THE ONLY SAFE COURSE THEREFORE IS TO SEEK A DEBATE

TOWARDS THE END OF THE FIRST WEEK OF DECEMBER.

3. IT IS ESSENTIAL TO PUBLISH THE REPORTS ON ACCEPTABILITY

(BY THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE AND THE MONITORING TEAM) BY THE END

OF THE PRECEDING WEEK AT THE LATEST. WE SHOULD THEREFORE NEED

TO RECEIVE THE TEXTS OF THOSE REPORTS EARLY IN THAT WEEK (26-30 NOVEMBER). IF COMPILING THE REPORTS CANNOT BE DONE IN

LESS THAN TWO WEEKS, THIS WOULD MEAN THAT THE UNIT WOULD HAVE TO CEASE TAKING EVIDENCE ON 9 NOVEMBER OR THEREABOUTS LEAVING JUST

OVER SIX AND A HALF WEEKS FOR THE SUBMISSION OF VIEWS IN HONG

KONG.

4. WE CAN SEE NO WAY OF COMPRESSING THE TIMESCALE OF OUR PART

OF THE EXERCISE BECAUSE OF THE PHYSICAL DIFFICULTY OF SETTING

THE PRINT. WE ASSUME THAT THE REPORTS WILL BE SUBSTANTIAL

DOCUMENTS. UNLESS THE ASSESSMENT UNIT CAN TAKE LESS THAN TWO

WEEKS ACTUALLY TO DRAW UP THEIR REPORTS, WE SEE NO ALTERNATIVE

TO THE ABOVE TIMING.

HOWE

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

HD/PLANNING STAFF

HD/PUSD

DEP HD/PUSD

RESEARCH D (MR WALKER)

LEGAL ADVISERS(SIR J FREELAND) PS

PS/LADY YOUNG

PS/MR LUCE

PS/PUS

SIR W HARDING

SIR C TICKELL

MR GOODALL

MR DEREK THOMAS MR. BOYD

COPIES TO:-

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL PS/HOME SECRETARY

PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL

PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE & INDUSTRY

COPIES TO:- (VIA ADR)

MR ROBERTS NEWS DEPT

MR BICKFORD LEGAL ADVISERS (RM K197)

MR FIFOOT LEGAL ADVISERS

MR POWELL NO 10 DOWNING ST.

MR INGHAM NO 10 DOWNING ST.

MR MARTIN ASSESSMENTS STAFF CABINET OFFIC

MR CARTLEDGE CABINET OFFICE

MR COLVIN

CABINET OFFICE

PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE

PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL

SIR P CRADOCK ROOM K195

SIR P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING ST.

CEORET