TNAG-1445-FCO40-1929-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 46

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OCMIAN 6280

SECRET

DD 18010OZ HOKON

FM FCOLN TO HOKON

171600Z DEC

GRS 429

SECRET

011 1

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

1 8 DEC 1986

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

in fuker

SECRET

FM FCO

TO DESKBY 180100Z HONG KONG

TELNO 2900

OF 1716002 DECEMBER 86

INFO DESKBY 180100Z PEKING

542

543

54-5

See 646

TOP O UST

6280

1

YOUR TELNO 4172 AND PEKING 2397:

POSSIBLE POSTPONEMENT OF THE 1987 REVIEW

1. THANK YOU FOR TURS. WE NOTE YOUR JUDGEMENT THAT ANY

SIGNIFICANT DELAY IN THE 1987 REVIEW WOULD BE UNREALISTIC AND

UNACCEPTABLE IN HONG KONG TERMS, AND WOULD HAVE A SERIOUS EFFECT

ON CONFIDENCE.

2. IT IS HELPFUL THAT YOU CAN HOWEVER ENVISAGE SOME POSSIBLE

FLEXIBILITY AT THE END OF THE PRESENT TIMETABLE, WITH THE

PUBLICATION OF THE WHITE PAPER POSSIBLY DELAYED AS FAR AS THE END

OF JANUARY 1988. IT MIGHT OF COURSE BE APPARENT IN HONG KONG

THAT THIS SLIGHT EXTENSION OF A TIMETABLE WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN

MADE KNOWN WAS NOT UNCONNECTED WITH THE LIKELY PROCEEDINGS IN THE

SIXTH BLDC PLENARY IN DECEMBER 1987. WE TAKE IT THAT YOU BELIEVE

ANY CRITICISM ON THIS SCORE WOULD BE LIMITED TO TOLERABLE

PROPORTIONS.

3. WE ARE NOT HOWEVER ENTIRELY CLEAR WHY YOU FEEL THAT THE

INITIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GREEN PAPER COULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO

SLIP TO AN EQUIVALENT EXTENT, SAY AS FAR AS JUNE 1987. THIS

WOULD HAVE THE CLEAR PRACTICAL ADVANTAGE THAT THE NEW GOVERNOR

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