TNAG-2452-FCO40-3569-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-1992 — Page 176

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MDHIAN

IF WE GO AHEAD WITHOUT OFFERING A MEETING WITH QIAN, THEY ARE LIKELY TO ARGUE THAT WE HAVE BEEN INSINCERE ABOUT CONSULTATION ALL ALONG SINCE WE ARE NOT PREPARED TO EXPLORE EVERY AVENUE. THAT WOULD IN TURN BE LIKELY TO ERODE SOME OF OUR SUPPORT HERE. MOREOVER, THE CHINESE MIGHT PRESS FOR A LATER MEETING AS A WAY OF DELAYING THE INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION TO LEGCO. BUT I AM NOT SUGGESTING THAT WE PUT THIS IDEA TO THE CHINESE NOW. MERELY THAT WE RESERVE SPACE IN DIARIES.

PATTEN

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HKD

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PS/MR GOODLAD

MR HUM

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