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LegCo in the event of a breakdown. But while we wait to see
how (or if) the Chinese will jump in the talks during October it will not be a time for drawing any firm conclusions.
3.
In the public arena, the main objectives will be,
first, to underline that HMG and HKG are united on the policy
on constitutional development and, second, to rebut accusations, from the pro-China and pro-democracy camps respectively, that we have been either too inflexible or too
flexible in the talks. The Minister may wish to emphasise
that the policy has been developed jointly by the Prime
Minister, the Foreign Secretary and the Governor; that we
are working hard for agreement with China, but that we will
not compromise our principles for a deal; and that whatever
the outcome we will continue to work for a smooth transition.
What the Governor was able to say in his address about the
major moves we have made is a useful indicator of our efforts
to reach agreement, while being readily defensible against eg Martin Lee's recent public charge that we have a "shifting
bottom line".
Community issues
4. The visit also has the parallel, public objective of demonstrating the Minister's close involvement with, and interest in the Hong Kong community. It is customary, as part of this process, to highlight a different issue during each visit. His last visit (from 29 May 1 June) focussed
on environmental matters. This visit will have Education as
its public theme. The meeting with the Secretary of
Education and Manpower (Brief No 5), the visit to the
Ebenezer School for the Blind, and the British Council
Reception (Brief No 13) will centre on educational matters;
while the Community Lunch (Brief No 4) and the Visit to
Central and Western Districts (Brief No 6) will give some
insight into the mood of the community (Brief No 3) at
working and at grass-roots levels.
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