TNAG-1357-FCO40-1798-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 170

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TELNO 1904

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INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

HKRO|||| HU C

MECER ES IN RE::RY 10 DEC 1985

YOUR TELS NOS 2694-5: VISIT TO HONG KONG BY STATE COUNSELLOR JI

PENGFEI

1.

WE HAVE ONLY HAD TIME FOR A PRELIMINARY READING OF THE

DRAFT BRIEF FOR JI'S VISIT, AND BELIEVE THAT FURTHER CAREFUL

CONSIDERATION WILL BE NECESSARY. IN DUE COURSE WE SHALL NEED TO

SUBMIT A DRAFT BRIEF TO MINISTERS. WE HAVE NO OBJECTION TO YOUR

PUTTING THE GENERAL LINE TO EXCO TOMORROW, THOUGH YOU SHOULD

EMPHASISE THAT IT IS AT A VERY PRELIMINARY STAGE OF

CONSIDERATION.

2.

THE FOLLOWING ARE SOME INITIAL THOUGHTS:

•

(A) PARA 4. PROBABLY BETTER NOT TO SPEAK OF THE

PROMISES WILL BE FULFILLED'. PERHAPS 'THE ENTERPRISE

WILL SUCCEED'.

(B) FIRST (SIC) PARA 6. THE CHAPEAU SEEMS SOMEWHAT

DOWNBEAT. WE SUGGEST SOMETHING ON THE LINES OF: 'WE ARE

COMMITTED TO ENSURING SMOOTH TRANSFER OF GOVERNMENT IN

1997. IN THE JLG YOU EXPRESSED SOME CONCERNS ON RECENT

DEVELOPMENTS. WOULD LIKE TO MAKE FOUR THINGS CLEAR.'

(C) PARA 8. WE SHOULD BRING OUT THAT IT IS THE

PROFESSIONAL MIDDLE CLASSES WHO WILL FIND IT EASIEST TO

LEAVE IF THEY LOSE CONFIDENCE IN THE SYSTEM.

(D) PARA 10. FIRST SENTENCE LIABLE TO BE MISUNDERSTOOD:

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