TNAG-2212-FCO40-3172-Hong-Kong-annual-report-for-1990-1991 — Page 108

Mr Cox

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Reference

HB 011/3

RECE

8 APR 19091

HASTY

von Taken

ANNUAL REPORT ON HONG KONG, 1990

1.

As you know, we are planning to publish this report and The lay it before Parliament soon after the Easter recess. aim is to coordinate the publication date with Hong Kong so that the report issues on the same day in both London and Hong Kong.

2.

The final draft of the text, which has been approved by Lord Caithness and submitted to the Secretary of State, is now being prepared for publication both here and in Hong Kong. We still require the Secretary of State's formal approval. We also need him to approve the text of the foreword to the report, which is to issue over his signature. This text may well require considerable amendment, depending on the outcome of our discussions with the Chinese. Publication arrangements cannot be finalised therefore, until after the Secretary of State's return on 10 April.

3.

We

Hong Kong have told us they will need about a week after receiving the text of the foreword to finalise printing arrangments. This points to a publication date in the week beginning 22 April, rather than in the previous week, as we originally intended. The merits of simultaneous publication (in Hong Kong and London) would seem to me to outweigh any disadvantage in delaying publication here by one week. could manage publication here in the week beginning 15 April but timing would be tight and we are not under any specific pressure to do so. We simply selected the first opportunity of presenting the report to Parliament after the end of March. Last year, when Hong Kong published the report one week later than we did, there were snide remarks in the Hong Kong press about the unefficiency of the Hong Kong Government. I understand this would be likely to happen again. The last thing we want to do in present circumstances is gratuitously to provide opportunities for such criticisms. I hope, therefore, we can agree with Hong Kong a publication date around the middle of the week beginning 22 April.

犬

K. Sander

KAM Saunders

WH311

270 3544

CODE 18-77

8 April 1991

cc: Mr Paul o/r

Mr Burns o/r

PS/Lord Caithness

OAKACN VAS

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