2 *... 3AUN GETA
SECRET
Chinese
pressure.
Basic
what might have to be done to respond to public
could not rely on On the Basic Law, we
the Hong
the members of
Consultative Law
Law
Committee adequately
Drafting Committee
or
the
to
influence
in a direction favourable to ourselves.
Almost
Kong
Basic
the Chinese in none of those Hong Kong members had
had a sufficient knowledge and understanding of the issues involved, or would be able to make their voices effectively heard in the deliberations
of these unwieldy bodies.
8.
take We concluded that the best approach would be to advantage of the excellent personal relationship between
the Secretary
through
of
State and
Wu
Xeugian.
that channel, to initiate a mo re
We
could
aim,
wide ranging
dialogue over the issues connected with the 1987 review and
the drafting of the Basic Law.
9.
Sir R Evans'
recommendations on
A
such an
encounter are
contained in Peking
are
to lose not
Lose time, it is essential
to
the modalities of
telno 434. If we
take advantage of
Wu's European tour in May. In the light of Wu's itinerary
and
programme the Secretary of State's
two possibilities:
we
have identified
i.
to invite
European tour
Sunday, and I
Wu to
on in Finland
understand moreover
London before
12 May.
he
begins
11 May is
his
a
that
the
Secretary of State has
engagements. private
A
meeting at Chevening
on Saturday
10 May would,
however, offer a particularly suitable setting for
an
informal exchange
of views
between
the
two
Ministers;
ii.
to propose a meeting in Brussels on
22 or 23 May.
I
understand that
23
possible
for the
May
Secretary
(a
of
Friday)
State if
might
be
certain
constituency
This option would
have
the
be could engagements
European governments need not feel affended by the
re-arranged.
advantage
that other
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.