SECRET
り
Yes."
4. The second key passage is the proposed chronology of contacts with the Chinese set out and discussed in paragraph 19. Contacts
between the Secretary of State and Wu Xueqian in March and April
will be crucial and we should now move quickly to set them up.
Long as these can be arranged, I have concluded that the
So
disadvantages of a visit to Peking by Mr Renton in the spring would
outweigh possible advantages. He would have to deal with Zhou Nan,
a particularly difficult interlocuter. Moreover it would be
extremely difficult for him to undertake the visit without also
visiting Hong Kong, where he would come under the most intense
questioning about his discussions with the Chinese. A visit to Hong Kong alone, which I believe Mr Renton may have in mind for more specifically Hong Kong-related reasons, would still be delicate, but more manageable. lut...
5.
The third key passage is the examination of possible outcomes of
the Review in paragraph 25. It is too early to assess with any confidence which outcome is the most likely: my own feeling is however that we are unlikely to see the outcome described at (i), namely the conclusion that most people in Hong Kong are clearly
opposed to the introduction of direct elections in 1988.
6. I am putting in hand the drafting of the message for the
Secretary of State to Wu Xueqian which would be the first element of
my proposed strategy.
SECRET
Colten
CO Hum
/1. This
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