CONFIDENTIAL
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TO FORM MORE CONCRETE IDEAS.
WE ACCEPT THE AMBASSADOR'S POINT
THAT THERE IS A DANGER OF THE CHINESE SAYING NO IN ANY PARTICULAR
AREAS IF WE MAKE PROPOSALS: WE THINK HOWEVER THAT THIS WILL APPLY
AT WHATEVER STAGE WE START TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT SPECIFICS. IN
SOME WAYS THERE IS ADVANTAGE IN GETTING TO KNOW EARLY WHERE THEY
ARE GOING TO DIG THEIR HEELS IN.
4.
IT OCCURS TO US THAT ONE WAY OF PROCEEDING WHICH MIGHT NOT INCUR TOO MUCH DANGER WOULD BE TO GIVE THE CHINESE A GENERAL
DESCRIPTION OF THE AREAS WE THINK THE REVIEW WILL NEED TO COVER
WITHOUT TELLING THEM WHAT ANSWERS WE THINK WILL NEED TO BE
FOUND.
5.
ON MECHANICS IT IS CLEAR THAT OUR NEXT MAJOR EFFORT MUST
BE WITH LU PING. WE SEE NO OBJECTION TO THE AMBASSADOR'S
PROPOSAL TO HAVE AN INFORMAL LUNCH WITH ZHOU NAN IN JANUARY,
THOUGH WE SHALL PROBABLY HAVE NOTHING FURTHER FOR HIM TO SAY AT
THAT STAGE ON REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT. WE ARE INCLINED TO FAVOUR THE IDEA OF A MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO WU, TO BE DELIVERED BY MR RENTON. WE CAN CONSIDER IN JANUARY THE
TERMS OF SUCH A MESSAGE. THE ONLY OTHER IDEA WHICH OCCURS TO US
AT THE MOMENT WOULD BE TO RESURRECT THE PROPOSED VISIT TO HONG
KONG BY ZHOU NAN.
HOWE
́HONG KONG AGREEMENT
LIMITED
HD/HKD HD/FED
HD/PLANNING STAFF HD/PUSD
DEP HD/PUSD
RES (MR WALKER)
PS
PS/MR FENTON
COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)
MR ROBERTS NEWS DEPT MR FIFOOT LEGAL ADVS MR PEIRCE, 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
SIR W HARDING
MR WILSON
SIR J FREELAND
MR J CROWLEY PUSD PS/LADY YOUNG
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CONFIDENTIAL
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