SECRET
CULTIVATING OTHER MEMBERS OF NCNA.
4.
IN ADDITION WE SHALL NEED TO CONSIDER HOW TO OPERATE THE
CHANNEL IN PEKING. SUBJECT TO YOUR VIEWS AND THOSE OF
SIR R EVANS WE ARE INCLINED TO THINK THAT WE SHOULD RESTRICT THIS
CHANNEL TO RESTATEMENT OF OUR GENERAL POSITION, AND GENERALISED
ASSURANCES OF OUR PRUDENT INTENTIONS. RESISTING THE CHINESE
DESIRE TO CONFINE DIALOGUE TO PEKING MIGHT BE
HLPED BY ENSURING THAT DIALOGUE THERE IS LESS FRUITFUL IN
REVEALING OUR THINKING THAN DIALOGUE IN HOng Kong. FURTHERMORE
IT IS DIFFICULT FOR THE AMBASSADOR, WHO IS NOT INVOLVED IN DAY TO DAY CONSIDERATION OF CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS IN HONG KONG, TO CARRY
UN A REAL DIALOGUE ON THE SUBJECT. NOR IS ZHOU NAN LIKELY TO BE
A USEFUL INTERLOCUTUR. IT WILL OF COURSE BE NECESSARY TO BRIEF
MR RENTON TO MAKE A CLEAR STATEMENT OF OUR POSITION AGAIN DURING
HIS VISIT TO PEKING.
5.
WE SHALL NEED TO CONSIDER WHAT IS GOING TO BE SAID IN THE
DIALOGUE AS IT DEVELOPS. IT WOULD BE MOST HELPFUL TO HAVE YOUR
IDEAS. IT SEEMS UNLIKELY THAT WE COULD SUSTAIN A DIALOGUE FOR
LONG ON THE BASIS OF THE SORT OF GENERAL STATEMENT MADE TO JI
PENGFEL. WE DO NOT OF COURSE WISH TO PREJUDICE OUR POSITION THAT WE HAVE NO FIXED IDEAS ABOUT WHAT SHOULD COME OUT OF THE 1987
REVIEW. BUT IT MAY WELL BE ADVISABLE TU CANVASS UN A PERSONAL
BASIS SOME OF THE OPTIONS WHICH YOU WILL HAVE TO, OR HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING. THIS WILL BE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF SEEKING TO DRAW
THE CHINESE OUT ON WHAT IDEAS THEY THEMSELVES HAVE ABOUT WHAT
MIGHT GO INTO THE BASIC LAW, AND PERHAPS INFLUENCING THOSE
IDEAS.
6.
WE REALISE THAT THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM GETTING THE RIGHT SORT OF MANDATE FROM THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. IF THE DIALOGUE WITH
THE CHINESE IS TO BE USEFUL THERE WILL HAVE TO BE A GENERAL MANDATE ALLOWING PLENTY OF FLEXIBILITY. YOU WILL KNOW BEST HOW THIS
CAN BE MANAGED WITH EXCO.
7.
GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS AND THOSE OF HM AMBASSADOR.
HOWE
*HONG KONG AGREEMENT
LIMITED
HD/HKD HD/FED
HD/PLANNING STAFF
HD/PUSD
DEP HD/PUBD
RES
PS
(MR WALKER)
PS/MR RENTON
COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)
MR ROBERTS NEWS DEPT** MR FIFOOT LEGAL ADVS MR PEIRCE, A88T STAFF
CABINET OFFICE
MR MALLABY CABINET OFFICE" MR DRC CHRISTOPHER
CABINET OFFICE
BIR P CRADDOCK NO 10 DOWNING 8T. MR WOOD LEGAL ADVISERS
PS/PUS
BIR W HARDING
MR WILSON
SIR J FREELAND
MR J CROWLEY FUSD PS/LADY YOUNG
2 SECRET
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