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(B) MY POLITICAL COUNSELLOR WHO ALSO DEALS WITH HONG KONG MATTERS HAS BEEN HERE ONLY SINCE MID-NOVEMBER AND DOES NOT YET HAVE PIGOTT'S CONSIDERABLE BACKGROUND, AND GRASP OF DETAIL OF THE SUBJECT. AS YOU KNOW, THE CHINESE ARE QUICK TO EXPLOIT INTERLOCUTORS WHOSE BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE IS INCOMPLETE,
AND
(C) WE ARE MOVING INTO A DIFFICULT PHASE WITH THE CHINESE OVER THE PROMULGATION OF THE BASIC LAW CIN MARCH/APRIL) AND DECISIONS ON THE DEMOCRATISATION OF HONG KONG'S POLITICAL STRUCTURE.
IN SHORT, I SEE THIS AS BEING A BUSY YEAR ON HONG KONG AFFAIRS AND WOULD MUCH PREFER TO MAINTAIN CONTINUITY OF EXPERTISE.
5. MUCH OF THE CURRENT SCRATCHINESS IN SINO-BRITISH RELATIONS ARISES FROM CHINESE SENSITIVITES OVER HONG KONG IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE JUNE EVENTS IN PEKING. THE CHINESE ARE ALSO PRIVATELY ANXIOUS ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE EAST EUROPEAN REVOLUTION ON THEIR OWN SOCIETY. A RELIABLE EXPERT WHO IS USED TO DEALING WITH THE MFA IS ESSENTIAL TO THE SAFE CONDUCT OF BUSINESS. THUS I DO NOT WANT TO SEE A CHANGE IN THE STEWARDSHIP FOR HONG KONG MATTERS TAKE PLACE WTHIN MY EMBASSY UNTIL WE HAVE THE BASIC LAW WELL BEHIND US, AND UNTIL WE ARE MORE CONFIDENT OF WHAT'S IN STORE FOR THE CHINESE THIS YEAR. AT THE VERY LEAST, I SHOULD LIKE PIGOTT TO REMAIN HERE UNTIL THE END OF JUNE TO SEE THROUGH THE BUSIEST PART OF THE YEAR, THOUGH I ENTIRELY SUPPORT HIS REQUEST FOR A FURTHER YEAR (WHICH HE MADE FULLY IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE BENEFITS, IN CAREER PLANNING TERMS, WHICH AN EARLIER HOME POSTING MIGHT BRING).
6. I AM SORRY TO BOTHER YOU PERSONALLY WITH THIS, BUT ROBIN MACLAREN AND YOU WILL HAVE THE CHINA BACKGROUND THROUGH WHICH TO APPRECIATE THE DIFFICULTY WE FACE HERE.
DONALD
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