SECRET
021250
MDHIAN 3665
саз
BREAKDOWN OF THE TALKS. YOU COULD REINFORCE THIS MESSAGE WITH QIAN. YOU MIGHT ALSO TELL HIM THAT, IF WE CANNOT REACH AGREEMENT IN THE TALKS, WE SHALL HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO PUT OUR PROPOSALS IN THEIR PRESENT FORM TO LEGCO AND LET THEM DECIDE, AND THAT THIS WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE WITHIN A FAIRLY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. IT WAS PARTLY THE REAL POSSIBILITY OF RECOURSE TO LEGCO THAT INDUCED THE CHINESE TO OFFER TALKS IN THE FIRST PLACE: AND THIS MIGHT CONCEIVABLY MOVE THEM AGAIN. IT MIGHT ALSO BE DESIRABLE IN THIS, 6) SCENARIO TO USE THE MEETING ON 1 OCTOBER TO START EXPLORING WITH Hard t
QIAN WHETHER, IN THE EVENT OF A BREAKDOWN, THE CHINESE MIGHT BE WILLING TO CO-OPERATE IN SOFTENING THE LANDING FOR HONG KONG.
do both
a+b, convincingly
8. I AM ALSO CONSIDERING WHAT I SHOULD SAY ABOUT THE TALKS IN MY LEGCO SPEECH ON 6 OCTOBER, ASSUMING THAT AGREEMENT HAS NOT BEEN REACHED BY THEN. I AM INCLINED TO THINK THAT I SHOULD REVEAL OUR MODIFIED PROPOSALS IN SOME (BUT PERHAPS NOT FULL) DETAIL. IT WOULD NOT BE RIGHT TO LEAVE LEGCO IN THE DARK, OR DEPENDENT ON CHINESE PRESS LEAKS, ON THE STATE OF THE PROPOSALS I ANNOUNCED TO THEM IN MY ADDRESS LAST YEAR. I THINK I SHOULD ALSO SAY AGAIN THAT TIME IS RUNNING OUT AND THAT WE CANNOT TALK INDEFINITELY. IT MAY BE CAND THIS WILL DEPEND TO A LARGE EXTENT ON YOUR TALK WITH QIAN) THAT I SHOULD ALSO INDICATE THAT LEGCO ITSELF MAY NEED TO TAKE THE NECESSARY DECISIONS IF THE TALKS BREAK DOWN.
9.
IF THERE IS A BREAKDOWN I AM KEEN THAT WE SHOULD BE READY TO DEMONSTRATE PUBLICLY AND IMMEDIATELY THAT THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAILURE LIES WITH CHINA'S INTRANSIGENCE. HENCE THE WHITE PAPER WHICH HONG KONG DEPARTMENT HAVE KINDLY BEEN DRAFTING AT MY REQUEST, AND WHICH I HOPE WE CAN ALSO DISCUSS AT MY MEETING ON 10 SEPTEMBER.
PATTEN
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
57
.HK POLICY
HKD
PUSD
FED
LEGAL ADVISERS//MS BARRETT
DISTRIBUTION
64
NTCD
PLANNERS
RAD
PS
PS/MR GOODLAD
PAGE
3
SECRET
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.