TNAG-1597-FCO40-2182-Hong-Kong-1987-Review-of-Representative-Government-1987 — Page 122

SECRET

JULY 1987

JLGVII in London.

LATE SUMMER/

AUTUMN 1987

?

AUTUMN

1987

Visit to Peking by new Governor.

Describes evolving state of Hong Kong opinion.

Visit to Britain by Wu Xueqian.

NOVEMBER 1987

Opportunity for us to foreshadow themes of

White Paper.

JLGVIII in Peking.

LATE 1987/

JANUARY 1988

? Visit to Peking by Secretary of State

(depending on likely outcome of review).

Describes content of White Paper.

HANDLING OF THE GREEN PAPER

A

20. A particularly difficult point for us to decide is the nature

of our contacts with the Chinese over the Green (and in.due course,

the White) paper. The Chinese have asked for enough advance notice

"to permit study". It would be consistent with past practice (for

example over the White Papers published by HMG and the HKG in 1984)

for us to give the Chinese an advance text a short time before

publication: but formal consultation on the basis of a draft would

Leave us open to undesirable pressures.

21. The following approach might best reconcile our various

objectives:

(i)

the general themes to be covered in the Green Paper, and the approach to be adopted to the issue of the composition of the

Legislature, would be thoroughly explained to the Chinese over

the months in advance of publication. (The possible meetings

between the Secretary of State and Wu in March and April and demarches by Sir R Evans could all be used for that purpose.)

SECRET