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MDHON 3376
6. THE CURRENT REVIEW HAS ALSO CONSIDERED A PROPOSAL TO CARRY OUT IN DUE COURSE AN EXERCISE FOR THE CONTINGENCY REINFORCEMENT OF HONG KONG. MOD'S THINKING IS THAT THIS MIGHT BE DONE IN 1992, WHEN THE FIRST BATTALION SHOULD HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWN FROM HONG KONG. IT WILL NOT BE NECESSARY TO COME TO ANY FIRM CONCLUSIONS AT THIS STAGE ABOUT SUCH A PROPOSAL (WHICH WOULD OBVIOUSLY NEED VERY CAREFUL HANDLING AND PRESENTATION, BOTH IN HONG KONG AND VIS A VIS THE CHINESE). THERE IS THEREFORE NO REFERENCE TO THIS POINT IN THE PAPER FOR EXCO.
7. MOD PLAN TO FINALISE THE REVIEW AND SUBMIT TO MINISTERS BY 16 FEBRUARY. TO ENABLE THEM TO MEET THIS DEADLINE IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE COMMENTS FROM YOU, INCLUDING ANY COMMENTS FROM EXCO BY 14 FEBRUARY AT THE LATEST.
8. AS A FIRST STEP, WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR EARLY COMMENTS ON THE CONCLUSIONS SET OUT IN PARA 3-4 ABOVE: ON THE TIMETABLE FOR CONSULTING EXCO AND ON THE DRAFT PAPER IN MIFT, WHICH WE ENVISAGE COULD BE CIRCULATED TO EXCO BEFORE THE CHINESE
NEW YEAR HOLIDAY.
HOWE
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
15
LIMITED
HKD
NNNN
DISTRIBUTION
15
MR MCLAREN
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