TNAG-1445-FCO40-1929-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 18

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OCMIAN 6013

SECRET

DD 170100Z PEKIN

FM FCOLN TO HOKON

161640Z DEC

GRS 410

SECRET

FM FCO

TO DESKBY 170100Z HONG KONG

TELNO 2889

OF 161640Z DECEMBER 86

AND TO DESKBY 170100Z PEKING

SECRET

6013 1

-

FOLLOWING PERSONAL FOR ACTING GOVERNOR FROM HUM, HKD

POSSIBLE POSTPONEMENT OF THE 1987 REVIEW

1.

I UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN MR RENTON AND DAVID WILSON WERE IN

HONG KONG FOR SIR E YOUDE'S FUNERAL THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION OF

THE POSSIBILITY OF USING THE GOVERNOR'S DEATH AS A REASON FOR

DELAYING THE 1987 REVIEW. IT WAS RECOGNISED THAT A KEY ELEMENT

WOULD BE PERCEPTIONS IN HONG KONG: MIGHT HONG KONG OPINION ITSELF

ADVOCATE SUCH A COURSE, OR ALTERNATIVELY MIGHT THIS BE SEEN AS

CAPITULATION TO CHINESE PRESSURE. YOU UNDERTOOK TO TELEGRAPH

YOUR VIEWS.

2. WE HOPE TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE BRIEFLY

WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE ON 19 DECEMBER. IT WOULD THEREFORE

BE MOST HELPFUL TO RECEIVE YOUR COMMENTS DESKBY 171200Z IF AT ALL

POSSIBLE. AS WE SEE IT THERE ARE THREE BROAD OPTIONS:

(A) TO MAINTAIN THE PRESENT TIMETABLE, WITH THE GREEN PAPER

PUBLISHED IN APRIL OR MAY AND THE WHITE PAPER PUBLISHED

BEFORE THE END OF 1986:

(B)

TO PUT BACK THE PROCESS BY A FEW MONTHS (WITH THE GREEN

PAPER PUBLISHED IN THE SUMMER AND THE WHITE PAPER IN PERHAPS

1

SECRET