TNAG-1444-FCO40-1928-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 74

CONFIDENTIAL

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FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR. HE HAS COMMENTED THAT MFA OFFICIALS

(THIRD PEKING TUR) COULD BE EXPECTED TO SEE THE DIFFICULTIES: BUT

WE NEED NOT BE DISCOURAGED FROM TRYING TO CONVINCE WU OF THE

ADVANTAGES OF AN EARLY VISIT. THERE MAY WELL ALSO BE A NEED FOR

A VISIT BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO PEKING LATER IN THE YEAR TO

RESOLVE DIFFERENCES WITH THE CHINESE OVER DIRECT ELECTIONS AND

THE OUTCOME OF THE REVIEW OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT.

4.

WHERE YOUR OWN VISITS TO PEKING ARE CONCERNED, WE AGREE

THAT THEY OFFER A MOST VALUABLE SUBSIDIARY CHANNEL FOR DIALOGUE.

IT IS ENCOURAGING THAT YOUR AUGUST VISIT WAS POSITIVELY RECEIVED

IN HONG KONG. HOWEVER THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS COMMENTED THAT

HE DOES NOT THINK IT WOULD BE WISE FOR YOU TO OVER-DO YOUR VISITS

TO PEKING: YOU WOULD RUN THE RISK OF LOOKING LIKE A PROVINCIAL

GOVERNOR GOING TO THE IMPERIAL CAPITAL TO RECEIVE EDICTS. IN THE

PARTICULARLY SENSITIVE CIRCUMSTANCES OF 1987 EACH VISIT WOULD NO

DOUBT BE VIEWED IN HONG KONG AGAINST THE STAGE REACHED IN THE

REVIEW OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT, AND THERE COULD BE UNHELPFUL

COMMENT ABOUT THE EXTENT OF THE CONSULTATION OR CONCERTATION WITH

THE CHINESE IN WHICH YOU WERE APPARENTLY

ENGAGED. THE SECRETARY OF STATE BELIEVES

THEREFORE THAT IT WOULD BE BEST FOR YOU TO PLAN FOR TWO VISITS

(IN ABOUT MARCH AND OCTOBER) RATHER THAN THREE. THE TIMING WILL

IN PRACTICE BE DEPENDENT ON THE MINISTERIAL CONTACTS THAT CAN BE

ARRANGED.

5.

WE ENVISAGE THAT A VISIT IN MID-MARCH (OR PERHAPS

SLIGHTLY EARLIER) WOULD ENABLE YOU TO DESCRIBE TO THE CHINESE THE

ISSUES THAT WILL BE COVERED IN THE GREEN PAPER, AND HOW WE INTEND

THAT THEY SHOULD BE HANDLED. AN OCTOBER VISIT (ASSUMING THERE IS

NO SUBSTANTIVE CONTACT AT MINISTERIAL LEVEL AROUND THAT TIME)

WOULD RELATE IN A SIMILAR WAY TO PUBLICATION OF THE WHITE PAPER.

IN EACH CASE WE ARE SURE IT IS SENSIBLE, AND PRESENTATIONALLY

RIGHT, FOR A PEKING VISIT TO PRECEDE RATHER THAN FOLLOW YOUR

CONSULTATIONS ON THESE ISSUES IN LONDON.

6.

ALTHOUGH IT WOULD BE PREFERABLE FOR THE AMBASSADOR TO BE

IN PEKING FOR THESE VISITS (PEKING TELNO 2067) WE ACCEPT THAT

THIS MIGHT NOT BE COMPATIBLE WITH HIS LEAVE PLANS. IN THAT EVENT

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CONFIDENTIAL