TNAG-1331-FCO40-1758-Future-of-Hong-Kong-test-of-the-acceptability-of-the-Joint-D-1984 — Page 355

CONFIDENTIAL

819

OO HONG KONG

GRS 246

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO 201100Z NOV 84

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

HKK 040/46

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

22 NOV 1984

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

REGISTRY

PA

Action Taken

TELEGRAM NUMBER 2307 OF 21 NOVEMBER

222

YOUR TELNO 3515: HONG KONG AGREEMENT: ASSESSMENT OFFICE AND MONITORS' REPORTS

PUBLICATION OF

THIS

1. I AM MOST GRATEFUL FOR YOUR AGREEMENT TO FURNISH US WITH THE FINAL VERSION OF BOTH REPORTS ON MONDAY 26 NOVEMBER. WILL ENABLE US TO BRING FORWARD PUBLICATION OF THE WHITE PAPER.

WE WILL NOT HOWEVER BE ABLE TO PUBLISH AT 0900Z ON 29 NOVEMBER

BUT WE PROPOSE TO PUBLISH AT 1100Z ON THAT DAY. WE HOPE THAT THIS

WILL BE ACCEPTABLE TO YOU. IF YOU CONSIDER IT NECESSARY YOU MAY

PROVIDE EMBARGOED ADVANCE COPIES OF THE WHITE PAPER TO THE

PRESS.

2. THE TIMETABLE IS VERY TIGHT INDEED, AND COULD BE DISRUPTED BY

MATTERS OUT OF OUR CONTROL, SUCH AS FOG AT HEATHROW ON 26

NOVEMBER. FOR THIS REASON WE SHOULD PREFER TO DELAY ANNOUNCEMENT

OF THE EXACT DATE OF PUBLICATION UNTIL THE EXERCISE IS IN ITS

FINAL STAGES. WE THEREFORE PROPOSE, UNLESS YOU SEE OBJECTION, ΤΟ

ANNOUNCE PUBLICATION OF THE WHITE PAPER IN A REPLY TO AN INSPIRED

PQ ON 27 NOVEMBER, PUBLISHED IN HANSARD ON 28 NOVEMBER. ON THAT TIMING YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO ANNOUNCE PUBLICATION AT, ANY TIME

AFTER 1700Z ON 27 NOVEMBER. WE WILL IN THE SAME REPLY ANNOUNCE

THAT THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED BY ORGANISATIONS TO THE ASSESSMENT

OFFICE WILL BE LAID IN THE LIBRARIES OF BOTH HOUSES. IN THE

MEANTIME WE SHOULD TAKE THE LINE THAT THE REPORT WILL BE

PUBLISHED BEFORE THE DEBATE BUT THAT THE DATE FOR PUBLICATION HAS

NOT YET BEEN FIXED.

HOWE

HONG KONG AGREEMENT

1

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

HD/PLANNING STAFF

HD/PUSD

DEP HD/PUSD

RESEARCH DEPT (MR WALKER) PS

PS/MR LUCE

PS/PUS

SIR W HARDING

MR WILSON

SIR J FREELAND

COPIES TO:(VIA ADR)

MR ROBERTS, NEWS DEPT

MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS MR BURROWS, LEGAL ADVISERS

MR MARTIN, ASST STAFF CABINET

OFFICE

MR CARTLEDGE, CABINET OFFICE MR COLVIN, CABINET OFFICE

SIR P CRADOCK, NO 10 DOWNING ST SIR P CRADOCK, ROOM K195

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