TNAG-2220-FCO40-3188-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Public-Order-Ordinance-1991 — Page 82

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO DESKBY 07110OZ HONG KONG

TELNO 1080

OF 07100OZ JUNE 91

CONFIDENTIAL

26237 MDHOAN 4986

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Stanis

HEB 012 13.

& ASIA C

ра вам это

PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM SIR JOHN COLES

YOUR TELNO 109 TO PEKING: PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE

1.

·

WE DISCUSSED THIS MATTER AT SOME LENGTH WITH THE MINISTER OF STATE YESTERDAY. WE WERE ALL KEEN TO HELP YOU OVER THIS

MATTER BUT FELT BOUND TO CONCLUDE THAT NOW DID NOT SEEM THE

RIGHT TIME TO PROCEED.

2.

WE OF COURSE ACCEPT YOUR JUDGMENT THAT THE POLITICS OF THE

POST-ELECTION LEGCO MAY MAKE THIS MATTER HARDER TO HANDLE LATER IN THE YEAR. BUT THE CRUCIAL ARGUMENT AGAINST ACTING NOW SEEMED TO US TO BE THAT IT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO INFORM THE CHINESE OF OUR INTENTION ABOUT A WEEK AHEAD OF GAZETTING, IE ABOUT 14 JUNE, THAT WE SHOULD ALMOST CERTAINLY THEN STILL BE AWAITING A REPLY TO THE PRIME MINISTER'S MESSAGE ABOUT THE AIRPORT AND THAT IT WOULD BE WRONG TO RISK INJECTING ANOTHER PROBLEM INTO OUR AGENDA WITH THE CHINESE AT THAT TIME. LORD CAITHNESS THEREFORE HOPES YOU CAN AGREE TO DEFER THE PROPOSED ACTION.

HURD

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HKD

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CONFIDENTIAL