TNAG-1598-FCO40-2191-Hong-Kong-1987-Review-of-Representative-Government-1987 — Page 25

SECRET

FM PEKING

SECRE

HKB 01 2

MECEIVED IN REGISTRY

16 DEC 1987

SK OFFIC

715.011/2.

TOP COPY C. DIST.?

055736

MDHIAN 0568

TO DESKBY 16100OZ FCO

TELNO 2184

OF 160717Z DECEMBER 1987

AND TO DESKBY 16100OZ HONG KONG

INDE?

PA

HONG KONG TELNO 4737 AND TELNOS 4751,4752 AND 4753: DISTRICT BOARDS AND MUNICIPAL COUNCILS.

1. GRATEFUL TO KNOW IF WE SHALL BE AUTHORISED TO HAND OVER A TEXT OF THE PRESS RELEASE IN HONG KONG TELNO 4752 TO THE CHINESE FOR INFORMATION, AND IF SO WHEN. MAY THE DEFENSIVE PRESS LINE IN HONG KONG TELNO 4753, OR THE GIST OF IT, ALSO BE HANDED OVER?

2. AS SEEN FROM HERE, THE POINT ABOUT THE PRACTICAL TIMING CONSIDERATIONS WHICH HAVE FORCED AN EARLY ANNOUNCEMENT ON UC/DB MEMBERSHIP STILL DOES NOT COME OVER AS CLEARLY AS IT MIGHT IN THE MAIN PRESS RELEASE. COULD NOT THE DATES IN THE PREPENULTIMATE PARAGRAPH BE MENTIONED A LITTLE EARLIER, PERHAPS WORKED IN TO THE PARAGRAPH STARTING 'MR LIAO EXPLAINED''?

3. WE HAVE HAD NO (NO) RESPONSE SO FAR FROM THE MFA TO THE DEMARCHE REPORTED IN MYTEL NO 2168, BUT CANNOT YET BE SURE THAT NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS.

EVANS

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MR MCLAREN

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