TNAG-2803-FCO40-4043-Canadian-proposal-for-a-multilateral-meeting-on-Hong-Kong-in-1993 — Page 2

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 1904

OF 210455Z DECEMBER 93

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STRY

22 DEC 1993

INX

RECISTRY LAsian Token

INFO PRIORITY WASHINGTON, CANBERRA, OTTAWA, TOKYO PEKING INFO PRIORITY UKREP JLG HONG KONG

Personal for Ricketts (HKD) from Political Adviser

3

YOUR TELNO 1077 * CANADIAN PROPOSAL FOR MULTI-LATERAL MEETING ON HONG KONG

172360

MDHIAN 7787

4

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1 I agree with your proposed reply to the Canadians and will take a similar line with the Canadian Commission as you suggest. They have now written to me proposing 31 January/1 February. I very much agree with you that Late February/early March would be much better. It is important that the meeting should be held before you move on to other duties.

2. The cover story you propose is probably the best we can think of. But it is not very convincing. So we must do all we

ensure it is not needed. Knowledge of the meeting is being tightly held here.

3. On participation from Hong Kong, our thinking at the moment is that I should myself go, accompanied by one or two others (from Trade and Industry Branch and Constitutional Affairs Branch but not at Secretary Level, given inter alia the need to avoid attracting press attention).

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