TNAG-2730-FCO40-3936-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-1993 — Page 87

CONFIDENTIAL

027027

MDHIAN 4360

CONFIDENTIAL

FM SUVA

TO DESKBY 06100OZ FCO

TELNO 3

OF 060315Z JANUARY 93

AND TO DESKBY 06100OZ HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG, PEKING

PERSONAL FOR RICKETTS HKD

FROM PS/MR GOODLAD

PEKING PERSONAL FOR COX

UKREP JLG PERSONAL FOR GALSWORTHY

YR TELNOS 4 AND 5 TO HONG KONG: HONG KONG: PAPER FOR OPD (K)

1. THE MINISTER HAS SEEN THE REVISED OPD (K) PAPER. HE IS CONTENT WITH THIS, EXCEPT THAT HE BELIEVES THE WORD 'BRUTAL' IN LINE 6 OF PARA 4 IS COMPLETELY OVER THE TOP.

2. THE MINISTER HAS ALSO SEEN PEKING TELNO 1782. WITH REGARD TO THE COMMENT THIS MAKES ON PARA 13 OF THE EARLIER DRAFT OPD (K) PAPER (NOW PARA 14), HE HAS COMMENTED THAT HE TRUSTS THAT HMA PEKING IS MAKING CLEAR TO THE CHINESE THE INTERNATIONAL PRICE THEY WOULD PAY IF THEY PUSH TOO FAR ON HONG KONG.

3. FINALLY, THE MINISTER HAS SEEN FCO TELNO U/N OF 051749Z TO ABUJA. HE ACCEPTS THE RECOMMENDED COURSE OF ACTION. BUT HE SHARES THE GOVERNOR'S APPREHENSIONS AND BELIEVES THAT THIS CHANNEL SHOULD BE HANDLED WITH GREAT CARE. THE IDENTITIES OF THE CHINESE VISITORS WILL BE OF PARTICULAR IMPORTANCE.

DAVID

YYYY

MAIN

24

HKD

FED

PS

PS/MR GOODLAD

DISTRIBUTION

24

PS/PUS SIR J COLES

MR HUM

1

PAGE CONFIDENTIAL