TNAG-1356-FCO40-1797-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 155

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4. WHATEVER HAPPENS THERE IS NOW AN OVERWHELMING CONCENSUS IN THE COUNCIL THAT WE NEED BETTER INFORMAL CHANNELS TO THE CHINESE. THE FIRST INTIMATION WE GOT OF THIS BOMBSHELL WAS A FORMAL PIECE OF PAPER. SOME ADVANCE WARNING WOULD HAVE GIVEN US MORE TIME AND MORE OPPORTUNITY TO STEER THE CHINESE IN THE DIRECTION IN WHICH WE WANT TO GO (INFORMAL EXCHANGES.)

WE CAN DISCUSS THIS WHEN YOU ARE HERE NEXT WEEK.

YOUDE

"HONG KONG AGREEMENT

LIMITED HD/HKD HD/FED

HD/PLANNING STAFF HD/PUSD

DEP HD/PUSD

RES 》 (MR WALKER)

PS

PS/MR RENTON

COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)

MR ROBERTS NEWS DEPT MR FIFOOT LEGAL ADVS

MR MARTIN ASST STAFF

CABINET OFFICE

MR MALLABY CABINET OFFICE MR DRC CHRISTOPHER

CABINET OFFICE SIR P CRADDOCK NO 10 DOWNING ST. MR WOOD LEGAL ADVISERS

PS/PUS

BIR W HARDING

MR WILSON

BIR J PREELAND

MR J CROWLEY PUSD

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