TNAG-1597-FCO40-2182-Hong-Kong-1987-Review-of-Representative-Government-1987 — Page 166

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THE MAIN ARGUMENT AND RATHER DETAILED FOR INTRODUCTION AT THIS POINT IN A PAPER FOR MINISTERS:

(C) PARAS 11-12: WE HAVE ABBREVIATED THE PASSAGE DEALING WITH THE OPTION OF SIGNIFICANT POSTPONEMENT OF THE REVIEW. WE HAVE NOW RECEIVED A STEER FROM MINISTERS IN CONNECTION WITH THE PUBLICATION OF THE GREEN PAPER. WE NO LONGER NEED TO REHEARSE THE ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST THIS OPTION SO COMPREHENSIVELY:

(D)

PARA 15 AND ANNEX: YOU WILL NOTE THAT WE REFER TO PUBLICATION OF THE WHITE PAPER IN FEBRUARY RATHER THAN JANUARY 1988. THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH DISCUSSION OF THE QUOTE LIMITED DELAY UNQUOTE OPTION IN PARA 13, AND STRIKES US AS A SAFER TIMETABLE. IN FINALISING THE WHITE PAPER WE

SHALL NEED TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE MEETING OF THE BLDC IN DECEMBER 1987. THERE IS ALSO THE POSSIBLE NEED FOR A MEETING BETWEEN THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND WU IN DECEMBER 1987 OR JANUARY 1988. THIS COULD HAVE A CRUCIAL INFLUENCE ON THE WORDING OF THE WHITE PAPER. WE NEED TO GIVE OURSELVES THE WIDEST POSSIBLE MARGIN OF MANOEUVRE IN SETTING UP THE MEETING AND REFLECTING ITS RESULTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF THE WHITE PAPER.

(E)

PARA 20: THE TIMETABLE OF CONTACTS WITH THE CHINESE AS AGREED IN SEPARATE EXCHANGE:

3.

WE HAVE DISCUSSED THE REDRAFT BRIEFLY WITH WILSON, WHO CONSIDERS THAT IT IS ON THE RIGHT GENERAL LINES. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS FROM PEKING OR YOURSELVES DESKBY190900Z. WE SHALL THEN SUBMIT TO OUR MINISTERS.

HOWE

OCMIAN 0840

HONG KONG AGREEMENT: RESTRICTED

LIMITED

COPIES TO:

LEGAL ADVISERS

MR FIFOOT

HD/HKD

HD/FED

RESEARCH DEPT (FE)

DEP/HD/PUSD

PS/MR RENTON

MR GILLMORE

MR WILSON

PS.

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