TNAG-1597-FCO40-2182-Hong-Kong-1987-Review-of-Representative-Government-1987 — Page 90

SECRET

12723

OCMIAN 2723

SECRET

00 PEKIN

FM FCOLN TO HOKON

231500Z JAN

GRS 450

011/2

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

26 JAN 1987

SECRET

FM FCO

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELNO 229

OF 231500Z JANUARY 87

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

INDEX

Y

ar Taken

-

33

See (35

See√36

FOLLOWING PERSONAL FOR ACTING GOVERNOR FROM HUM, HONG KONG DEPT

MY TELNOS 167-171: 1987 REVIEW: STRATEGY PAPER

1. THE SECRETARY OF STATE WILL BE CONSIDERING THE PAPER OVER THE

WEEKEND. IN THE MEANTIME I HAVE TRIED MY HAND AT A FIRST DRAFT

OF THE MESSAGE WHICH, IF OUR STRATEGY IS ADOPTED, HE WILL SEND TO

WU XUEQIAN (PARA 18 OF THE PAPER REFERS). THIS IS IN MIFT.

2. I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND THOSE OF PEKING.

THE MESSAGE IS A LITTLE LONG FOR THE GENRE, BUT THERE IS QUITE A

LOT OF GROUND TO COVER. A NUMBER OF POINTS NEED EXPLANATION:

I HAVE NOT (NOT) AFTER ALL DIRECTLY REFERRED TO WHAT

ZHOU NAN SAID IN DECEMBER.

(A)

(B)

HIS ASSERTION THAT THE BRITISH

GOVERNMENT HAD DECIDED TO INTRODUCE DIRECT ELECTIONS IN

1988 (PEKING TELNO 2363 OF 1986) WAS MADE TO SIR R EVANS

OVER DINNER. ON REFLECTION I THINK IT WOULD NOT BE POLITIC

TO REFER DIRECTLY TO THIS STATEMENT OR EXPLICITLY TO TAKE

ISSUE WITH IT:

WE HAVE NOT LOST SIGHT OF THE AMBASSADOR'S SUGGESTION IN

PEKING TELNO 79 THAT WE SHOULD OFFER WU AN INVITATION FOR

AN AUTUMN VISIT TO BRITAIN FAIRLY SOON. HOWEVER I

CONCLUDED AFTER DISCUSSION WITH THE PRIVATE OFFICE THAT THE

1

SECRET

PRESENT

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