TNAG-2713-FCO40-3919-Parliamentary-relations-draft-White-Paper-on-Representative--1993 — Page 28

CONFIDENTIAL

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Mr Masefield Ill. hoepfeld 26/Ai

Private Secretary

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HONG KONG: DRAFT WHITE PAPER

Surday 28t

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FROM: P F Ricketts

Hong Kong Department

DATE: 26 November 1993

cc: PS/Mr Goodlad

Heads: PRU

NTCD

FED

Special Advisers

26

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1.

The Secretary of State saw a draft of our contingency

White Paper on the electoral talks two weeks ago. He was content with it, subject to any necessary up-dating.

2. Given that the talks may reach a stalemate this weekend, with the real possibility of a breakdown next week. I now recommend that we should proceed with the printing of a White Paper. I submit an up-dated draft. This has been cleared again with the Governor and incorporates some amendments from

him.

It has also been carefully checked for accuracy at this

end. The Secretary of State's introduction has changed little

from the version I submitted two weeks ago. The main change in

the draft is that the Governor would like a short and robust

concluding section. This now makes the fourth section of the

White Paper.

3. Since the White Paper reveals the substance of the negotiations in detail, we and the Governor would only envisage publishing it once it was clear that the talks had irrevocably

broken down. On the timetable now envisaged by the Governor,

that could happen next week. I therefore recommend that this draft should be passed to HMSO on Monday 29 November with the request that it be given high priority, so as to have proof

w.paper.PR.JRB

CONFIDENTIAL