TNAG-2450-FCO40-3567-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-1992 — Page 240

G.F. 316.

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3

(a)

(e)

elections

into place (i.e. around the end of

1992), in order to avoid getting bogged down and

?

excessive extraneous resources getting bogged down in a

lengthy implementation;

there was too little time before the Governor's

LegCo Address on 7 October for us to consult the

Chinese properly, given our experience of their

leisurely approach;

in any case the danger of the Chinese, at least

initially, reacting badly to the package and

leaking elements of it to the media was considered

too great to allow us to brief them in detail

before revealing it in Hong Kong;

(£) instead it was agreed that the Chinese should be

forewarned of

the general shape of the package at

the Secretary of State's meeting with Qian Qichen

at UNGA on 28 September. Qian could also be told

the Governor's intention to discuss the package

with them after his LegCo Address. There might

also be supplementary briefing of the Chinese side

of

at

the working level.

to briefing.

Consideration to be given

/(3)

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