(N) PARA 20 I SUGGEST DELETING THE SECOND HALF OF THE FIRST
SENTENCE. THE ANNEXES THEMSELVES BEAR THE HALLMARK OF THE
BRITISH INPUT INTO THE NEGOTIATIONS AND I AM NOT SURE THAT IT IS
NECESSARY TO SEEK TO CLAIM SPECIFIC CREDIT FOR THEM IN THIS WAY.
(0) PARA 26
G
IN KEEPING WITH MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS, THIS PARAGRAPH
COULD BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE A REFERENCE TO HMG'S CONFIDENCE
THAT THE AGREEMENT WILL PRESERVE THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS IN HONG
KONG'S WAY OF LIFE, LEGAL, JUDICIAL AND OTHER SYSTEMS. STABILITY
AND PROSPERITY ARE RATHER TIRED WORDS.
(P) PARA 27
-
+
THE 3 RD SENTENCE SHOULD BE AMENDED TO READ
''THE AGREEMENT MUST BE TAKEN AS A WHOLE' AND SHOULD COME AFTER
THE EXISTING 4TH SENTENCE.
I HAVE A MORE GENERAL COMMENT ON THE STRUCTURE OF THE LAST
PART OF THE PAPER. IT SEEMS TO ME IMPORTANT THAT THE PAPER
SHOULD END ON A POSITIVE AND UPBEAT NOTE RATHER THAN WITH A
RATHER STERN LECTURE ABOUT THE ALTERNATIVES TO ACCEPTANCE WHICH
CONCLUDES THE PRESENT DRAFT. THE TONE OF PARA 28 DETRACTS FROM
THOSE PARTS OF THE DRAFT WHICH SEEK TO PRESENT THE AGREEMENT AS
A POSITIVE AND ACCEPTABLE ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM POSED BY THE
EXISTENCE OF THE 1997 PROBLEM. THE SENTENCE AT THE END OF PARA 30
ABOUT HONG KONG PEOPLE HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THEIR
VIEWS ALSO READS RATHER ODDLY AT THE CONCLUSION OF A LENGTHY
PASSAGE WHICH IN EFFECT TELLS HONG KONG PEOPLE THAT THEY MUST
ENTHER TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT. SUGGEST THAT PARA 28 BE CONDENSED,
AND COMBINED WITH, PARA 29 AND THIS PASSAGE BE CONCLUDED BY A
REPETITION OF HMG'S BELIEF THAT THE AGREEMENT IS ONE WHICH
HMG CAN WHOLEHEARTEDLY COMMEND TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG AS A
BASIS ON WHICH THEY MAY BUILD THEIR FUTURE.
(REPEATED AS REQUESTED)
YOUDE
LIMITED
HD HKD
HD FED MR BOYD
4
SECRET
COPIES TO SIR PCRADOCK (2)
MR BURROWS LEGAL
ADVISERS
THE FIFOOT
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