Redacted under FOI exemption section 27 (1)|
SECRET
5.
I have considered whether it would be better to show the
Chinese only the references to the Basic Law. These are contained in ere paragraph 7 of Chapter III as currently drafted. I have
concluded that our interests would not be best served by such an approach: the Chinese are in my judgement less likely to raise any difficulties if they can see the references to the Basic Law in context: their suspicions might be unnecessarily and groundlessly
aroused if, contrary to the procedure for the Green Paper, we
declined to show them the full context. We want to get the wording
on the Basic Law past the Chinese with the minimum delay: I recommend that we again adopt the "illustrative paper" method to
achieve this. I submit, in accordance with the Secretary of State's
wishes, a revised draft minute to the Prime Minister, which seeks to
make clear what is to be shown to the Chinese.
SECRET
A.2. Pand
A R Paul
/1. I
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