TNAG-1596-FCO40-2181-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 53

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CONCEPT IN A WAY WHICH WE KNEW WAS COMPATIBLE WITH

CHINESE THINKING.

WE ARE THEREFORE INCLINED TO THINK THAT WE SHOULD AIM TO

HAND A PAPER OVER RATHER LATER THIS YEAR. THIS SHOULD BE

SUFFICIENTLY IN ADVANCE OF THE GOVERNOR'S SECOND VISIT, SO THAT WE COULD EXPECT A SUBSTANTIVE EXPRESSION OF CHINESE VIEWS ON THAT

OCCASION. SUBMITTED ON ITS OWN IT WOULD MAKE A GREATER IMPACT AND

THERE WOULD BE A BETTER PROSPECT OF THOROUGH DISCUSSION. THERE

WOULD ALSO BE TIME TO INFLUENCE DISCUSSION AT BLDC VIII IN

DECEMBER. BUT EVEN ON THIS SLOWER TIMETABLE THERE IS STILL THE

POTENTIAL RISK THAT WE WOULD BECOME COMMITTED TO THE GEC CONCEPT

VIS A VIS THE CHINESE AT A TIME WHEN ARGUABLY WE HAVE LITTLE

CLEAR IDEA WHETHER IT WILL FIND FAVOUR WITH THE HONG KONG PEOPLE.

ARE YOU SATISFIED THAT THIS RISK IS SUFFICIENTLY NEGLIGIBLE TO BE

DISCOUNTED? IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE YOUR COMMENTS, PERHAPS

ONCE YOU HAVE CONSULTED EXCO.

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IN THE MEANTIME WE SHOULD HAVE NO DIFFICULTY WITH YOUR

EXPLORING THE ISSUE IN MORE DETAIL WITH EXCO, AND WORKING TOWARDS

THE FINALISATION OF A PAPER ON THE GENERAL LINES OF SECOND TUR.

WE SUGGEST YOU PUT YOUR DRAFT TO EXCO ON THIS PRELIMINARY BASIS,

AND ON THE CLEAR UNDERSTANDING THAT WE AND LEGAL ADVISERS WILL

GIVE YOU OUR MORE DETAILED COMMENTS ON THE PAPER, TAKING ACCOUNT

OF THE COMMENTS IN PEKING TUR, IN DUE COURSE.

CHALKER

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OCMIAN 2474

HONG KONG AGREEMENT: RESTRICTED

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

PS/LORD GLENARTHUR PS/MR EGGAR

RES DEPT (FE) DEP/HD.PUSD

MR MCLAREN

MR CILLMORE

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Secret

COPIES TO: MR FIFOOT

LEGAL ADVISERS