TNAG-1597-FCO40-2182-Hong-Kong-1987-Review-of-Representative-Government-1987 — Page 175

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13 JAN 1987

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TO DESKBY 130100Z HONG KONG

TELNO 70

OF 12140OZ JANUARY 87

INFO DESKBY 130100Z PEKING

1987 REVIEW: PUBLICATION OF GREEN PAPER

1.

WE HAVE BEEN GIVING FURTHER CONSIDERATION TO THE TIMING

OF THE PUBLICATION OF THE GREEN PAPER IN THE LIGHT OF:

(A)

SEPARATE TELEGRAMS ON THE ARRIVAL OF THE NEW GOVERNOR:

(B)

WHAT WE NOW KNOW ABOUT POSSIBILITIES FOR CONTACT BETWEEN

BRITISH AND CHINESE MINISTERS BEFORE PUBLICATION.

IT

2.

AT OFFICIAL LEVEL WE NOW FAVOUR PUBLICATION IN LATE

MAY. THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH OUR PUBLICLY STATED INTENTIONS.

WOULD ALSO SEEM TO US TO FIT BEST, IN BOTH PRACTICAL AND PRESENTATIONAL TERMS, WITH THE ARRIVAL OF THE NEW GOVERNOR (YOUR PERSONAL TELNO 108 REFERS). IT WOULD GIVE US THE MAXIMUM SCOPE AND FLEXIBILITY FOR PRIOR EXCHANGES WITH THE CHINESE AT WHICH OUR

INTENTIONS COULD BE EXPLAINED. AND WE HAVE THE BEST JUSTIFICATION FOR ALLOWING THE END OF THE EXERCISE TO SLIP INTO

1988 AS WE WISH.

3.

POSSIBLE CONTACTS WITH THE CHINESE WERE LISTED IN THE DRAFT STRATEGY PAPER IN OUR TELNOS 006-008: YOU COMMENTED IN YOUR TELNOS 38 AND 39. WE NOW BELIEVE THAT THESE CONTACTS COULD BEST TAKE THE

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