TNAG-2470-FCO40-3594-Budget-of-Hong-Kong-1992 — Page 139

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 533

OF 24074OZ FEBRUARY 92

CONFIDENTIAL

106117 MDLIAN 6256

10012

la

м

2512

TOP COPY Q DIST?

PERSONAL FOR PETER RICKETTS, HKD, FROM FINANCIAL SECRETARY.

BUDGET SPEECH 1992.

1. THE APPROPRIATION BILL WILL BE GAZETTED ON 28 FEBRUARY. AS WITH PAST PRACTICE, WE WILL BE SENDING COPIES OF THE DRAFT EXPENDITURE ESTIMATES, NOT THE REVENUE ESTIMATES, TO MEMBERS OF LEGCO ON MONDAY 24 FEBRUARY TO ENABLE THEM TO PREPARE FOR THE SPECIAL MEETINGS OF FINANCE COMMITTEE ON 19 AND 20 MARCH. FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE WILL ALSO BE DISTRIBUTING COPIES OF THE DRAFT EXPENDITURE ESTIMATES TO THE MEDIA IN ORDER TO FORESTALL ANY LEAKS OF WHAT IS ESSENTIALLY UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION. WE WILL ALSO BE ISSUING A SHORT, FACTUAL PRESS RELEASE ON THE SAME DAY.

2. I SHALL BE SENDING YOU A DRAFT COPY OF THE BUDGET SPEECH, WITHOUT SUPPLEMENT OR APPENDICES, IN THE BAG LEAVING HERE ON MONDAY 2 MARCH. THE ENVELOPE WILL MARKED TO BE OPENED BY YOU PERSONALLY, NOT BEFORE 0900 GMT WEDNESDAY 4 MARCH.

3. I SHALL TELEX ANY LAST MINUTE CHANGES IN THE DRAFT.

WILSON

YYYY

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31

MAIN

23

HK CONFIDENTIAL FINANCIAL

(DIALOGUE)

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/ERD

HD/FED

HD/PUSD

HD/ECONOMIC ADVISERS

PS

PS/LORD CAITHNESS PS/PUS

SIR J COLES

MR BURNS

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