TNAG-1443-FCO40-1927-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 39

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5. IN THE MEANTIME, THE LINE WE SHALL TAKE IN RESPONSE TO PRESS QUERIES IS THAT NO DECISION HAS YET BEEN TAKEN AND THAT THE MATTER

WILL BE PUT TO THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL IN DUE COURSE. IF ASKED

ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF AN INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT OFFICE SUCH

AS THAT SET UP IN REGARD TO THE DRAFT JOINT DECLARATION IN 1984,

WE SHALL REPLY THAT WHILE IT IS NOT APPROPRIATE TO PREEMPT EXCO'S

DECISION, THE 1984 EXERCISE WAS UNIQUE, RELATING AS IT DID TO

THE WHOLE FUTURE OF HONG KONG.

YOUDE

YYYY

HMLNAN 3871

THIS TELEGRAM WAS NOT

ADVANCED

HONG KONG AGREEMENT:

RESTRICTED

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

RESEARCH DEPT (FE)

DEP/HD/PUSD

PS/MR RENTON

MR GILLMORE

MR WILSON

[REPEATED AS REQUESTED)

COPIES TO:

MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS

-2-

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