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4.
and seeing them singly, so as to avoid a rash of
similar stories appearing at the same time;
Doing the briefings at official level, again to reduce the profile. Since I am on the negotiating
team, perhaps I would be the right candidate (though
I am not pushing myself forward!)
The aim would be to explain in broad terms what we are
seeking to achieve, so as to set in context the leaking
from the Chinese side. We should not get into the fine
detail of the negotiations, but it would be useful to
explain the principles on which we are operating.
If
5. We would need Hong Kong's agreement to this. I submit a
telegram to the Acting Governor setting out the broad themes
which we might seek to get across (no doubt I would be
pressed hard to go beyond this and to speculate about
eventual outcomes: I would resist that temptation). the Minister and Hong Kong agree, I would propose to see the journalists concerned over the next two weeks or so emphasising the importance of avoiding any attribution of
the use they make of my comments.
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PF Ricketts
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