CONFIDENTIAL
4004
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OCMIAN 4004
CONFIDENTIAL
PP HOKON
FM FCOLN TO HOKON
23163OZ DEC
GRS 448
нки oll
RECEIVE 2 N REGISTRY 31 DEC 1985
MISTRY usion Taken
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PA 011/ The Lection off
0
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG....
TELNO 2035
OF 23163OZ DECEMBER 85
INFO PRIORITY PEKING
413
425
431
YOUR TELS NOS 2842 AND 2852 AND PEKING TELS NOS 1849 AND 1863:
REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT
1.
WE ARE MOST GRATEFUL FOR TURS. WE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU
WILL BE SENDING US FURTHER THOUGHTS ON WHAT MIGHT BE SAID TO LU
PING AFTER CHRISTMAS. THE FOLLOWING ARE PRELIMINARY REACTIONS.
2.
WE AGREE IN GENERAL THAT IT WOULD BE USEFUL TO SMOKE THE
CHINESE SIDE OUT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE ON SUCH IDEAS AS THEY MAY
HAVE AT THIS STAGE OF THE STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG
AFTER 1997. WE SEE NO DIFFICULTIES IN WHAT YOU PROPOSE IN YOUR
TELNO 2852. WE ALSO SEE THE ADVANTAGE IN STARTING ANY
CONVERSATION ON THESE LINEs.
3.
WE
WE BELIEVE HOWEVER THAT IN ANY SUCH CONVERSATION LU PING
OR ANY OTHER CHINESE INTERLOCUTOR IS LIKELY BEFORE LONG TO ASK US
WHAT IDEAS WE HAVE ABOUT THE OUTCOME OF THE 1987 REVIEW. THIS
WOULD BE A NATURAL RESPONSE TO THE ASSERTIONS WE HAVE MADE IN
RECENT DAYS THAT THE 1987 REVIEW CANNOT BE AN EMPTY EXERCISE.
CAN OF COURSE SIMPLY TAKE REFUGE IN REAFFIRMING THAT WE HAVE NO
PRECONCEPTIONS ABOUT WHAT THE OUTCOME OF THE 1987 REVIEW OUGHT TO
BE, AND DECLINE TO BE DRAWN FURTHER. BUT WE SUSPECT THAT IF WE
ARE AS OPAQUE AS THIS WE MAY SIMPLY LEAD THE CHINESE INTO SAYING
THAT THE MATTER SHOULD BE DISCUSSED FURTHER WHEN WE HAVE HAD TIME
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