TNAG-2735-FCO40-3943-Hong-Kong-role-of-the-Legislative-Council-(LEGCO)-1993 — Page 76

Mr Hum

INDE

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са Ctn 28/4

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PS/Mr Goodlad

SECRET

FROM: P F Ricketts

Hong Kong Department

DATE: 28 September 1993

cc: Sir J Coles

Mr Fry, FED

Mr Wye, RAD

An 2815

(87

HONG KONG: GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS TO LEGCO

A 1. Hong Kong have sent us the current draft of all the passages

in the Governor's 6 October address which relate to dealings

with China. They have asked for comments by close of play on

29 September.

2. In order to catch the Minister before he leaves this

morning, I submit a draft letter to Hong Kong setting out our

immediate reactions to the draft. We are still studying the

detail and I would propose to enclose with this letter some

minor points of language and presentation.

3.

As the draft letter indicates, we believe that the address is very much on the lines previously discussed, and that it should not casue a major row with the Chinese. The passages on the negotiations are carefully phrased to avoid the Chinese

being able to sustain allegations that we have breached confidentiality. The passage dealing with the timing for ending the negotiations is somewhat weak and I propose to offer a more precise version. The speech's peroration is a highly personal

let.PET.JRB

SECRET