TNAG-1716-FCO40-2396-Hong-Kong-1987-Review-of-Representative-Government-1988 — Page 189

SECRET

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TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELNO 15

OF 041645Z JANUARY 88

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MDHOAN 5899

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PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM PAUL, HKD

YOUR TELNO 4895: REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT: WHITE PAPER 1. THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS ENDORSED (WITHOUT COMMENT) THE DECISIONS CONTAINED IN THE DRAFT CHAPTERS III AND VIII OF THE WHITE PAPER, ON THE BASIS OF THE DRAFTS WHICH WERE SUBMITTED TO HIM ON 23 DECEMBER. HOWEVER HE WAS UNABLE TO APPROVE THE DRAFT MINUTE TO OD (K) COLLEAGUES IN TIME FOR THE PRIME MINISTER TO BE CONSULTED BEFORE HER DEPARTURE FOR AFRICA. WE CANNOT REALISTICALLY EXPECT TO OBTAIN THE PRIME MINISTER'S APPROVAL UNTIL AFTER HER RETURN ON 8 JANUARY.

2. THIS IS UNFORTUNATE BUT NOT DISASTROUS. IN PRACTICE IT MEANS THAT THE TIMETABLE THIS END, AS SET OUT IN YOUR TELNO 4780, HAS SLIPPED BY A WEEK. THE PRIME MINISTER AND OTHER MINISTERIAL COLLEAGUES WILL NOW (NOW) BE CONSULTED ON THE BASIS OF THE REVISED AND IMPROVED FINAL DRAFTS CONTAINED IN YOUR TELNOS 3-10 INCLUSIVE, WHICH IS OF COURSE PROCEDURALLY PREFERABLE. ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE PRIME MINISTER'S AGREEMENT CAN BE OBTAINED QUICKLY (IE BY 11 JANUARY) WE SHOULD BE BACK ON SCHEDULE AND ABLE TO AUTHORISE PEKING TO SHOW THE CHINESE THE TEXTS BY 13 JANUARY AS PLANNED.

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