CONFIDENTIAL
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MDHIAN 6753
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 746
OF 10104OZ MARCH 92
PERSONAL FOR BURNS, AUSS FROM GOVERNOR
Q
YRTELNO 440: FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC DIALOGUE
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1 I AGREE THAT FACE-TO-FACE BRIEFINGS WOULD HELP US TO ASSESS THE PROBLEMS AHEAD AND CONSIDER HOW BEST TO DEAL WITH THEM. ALSO TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF EACH OTHER'S CONCERNS. BUT WE NEED TO HAVE A CLEARER IDEA OF YOUR AGENDA. THE DESCRIPTION IN PARA 1 OF TUR IS VERY BROAD. CLEARLY WE CAN GIVE YOU MORE DETAIL ON THE ACP, ON WHICH WE ARE SENDING OUR FIRST MONTHLY REPORT SEPARATELY. BUT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO KNOW WHAT ELSE YOU WANT TO DISCUSS.
2. UNFORTUNATELY, THE TIMING YOU PROPOSE (PARA 3 OF TUR) GIVES US REAL DIFFICULTY. IT WILL CLASH WITH THE END OF THE LEGCO DEBATE ON THE BUDGET, WHEN THOSE MOST INVOLVED WITH THE SORT OF DISCUSSIONS YOU WANT TO HAVE WILL BE WORKING ON THE FS'S CONCLUDING SPEECH AND THE OTHER OFFICIAL REPLIES. WITH ALL THAT GOING ON IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO GIVE THE DISCUSSIONS WITH YOUR TEAM THE PRIORITY THEY DESERVE. WITH THE POLITICAL DIFFICULTIES WE ARE CURRENTLY HAVING MAKING SURE THE BUDGET GETS THROUGH LEGCO, I CANNOT AFFORD TO ALLOW OUR KEY PEOPLE TO DIVERT THEIR ATTENTION ELSEWHERE AT SUCH A CRITICAL PERIOD.
3. AN ALTERNATIVE, WHICH COULD BE MANAGED BY PEOPLE HERE, WOULD BE 15-16 MARCH, ALTHOUGH KEY PEOPLE WILL BE TIED UP IN LEGCO FOR THE REST OF THAT WEEK. OTHER OPTIONS ARE 23-24 MARCH (BEFORE THE LEGCO DEBATE ON THE BUDGET ON 25-26 MARCH) AND 2-4 APRIL. WOULD ANY OF THESE SUIT YOU?
WILSON
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CONFIDENTIAL
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