30+)
GPS 359
IMMEDIATE
CYPHER/CAT A
FM FCO @82090Z NOV
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
PA
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TELNO 858 OF 8 NOVEMBER AND TO, IMMEDIATE
UKREP BRUSSELS
FOR GOVERNOR'S EYES ONLY.
PERSONAL FROM MURRAY.
1787
305
FOLLOWING YOUR TELEGRAM NO 1098 AND TRAN'S LATEST PRESS
STATEMENT AS IN UK REP BRUSSELS TELNO 6634, THE SITUATION
IS CLEARLY WORRYING. EVENTS HAVE MOVED SO FAST THAT IT HAS
NOT BEEN POSSIBLE TO GIVE MINISTERS A COMPREHENSIVE VIEW
OF WHAT HAS BEEN HAPENING. BUT I BELIEVE THEY WILL BE
VERY CONCERNED IF THEY CONCLUDE THAT ATTITUDES HAVE HARDENED
DANGEROUSLY ON BOTH SIDES IN A SITUATION WHERE THE COMMUNITY AND
HONG KONG ARE NOT VERY FAR APART ON MANY OF THE ESSENTIAL
ASPECTS WHICH COULD PRODUCE AGREEMENT.
2. WE HAVE ALREADY INSTRUCTED UKREP BRUSSELS TO TRY HARD TO
COOL THE ATMOSPHERE AND CONCENTRATE ATTENTION ON THE REAL POINTS
OF DIFFERENCE, WHICH WE BELIEVE ARE NARROWING SUBSTANTIALLY. UNFORTU ANATELY YOU CANNOT MAKE PUBLIC REFERENCE TO THIS ACTION
ON OUR PART SINCE IF IT BECAME KNOWN IT COULD SERIOUSLY
COMPROMISE OUR POSITION IN THE COMMUNITY.
3. NEITHER TRAN'S PRESS CONFERENCE ON 4 NOVEMBER NOR HIS
PRESS STATEMENT ON 8 NOVEMBER WAS MADE WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE
GOVERNMENT OR OF OTHER MEMBER STATES, IT IS A MATTER WHICH IS
ENTIRELY WITHIN THE COMPETENCE OF THE COMMISSION AS THE COMMUNITY'S
NEGOTIATOR AND HE IS NOT OBLIGED TO SEEK CLEARANCE. THE 8 NOVEMBER
STATEMENT AT LEAST LEAVES DOORS OPEN FOR A RESUMPTION.
4. WE HAVE PRESSED THE COMMISSION TO GIVE FULL DETAILED
CONSIDERATION TO THE LATEST HONG KONG PROPOSALS JUST AS WE HAVE
ALWAYS ADVISED YOU TO GIVE SIMILAR CONSIDERATION TO THE
COMMUNITY'S PROPOSALS. THE PLAIN FACT IS THAT IF THE PRESENT
POSITION REPRESENTS THE LAST WORD ON EITHER SIDE, AND THERE IS
NO CHANCE OF REACHING AGREEMENT, THE RESULTING BREAKDOWN COULD
DAMAGE HONG KONG IN CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT
FOR THE UK ON ITS OWN TO RETRIEVE THE POSITION, THE VIEW AT OFFICIAL LEVEL HERE, HOWEVER, IS THAT IF THERE IS SOME FURTHER MOVEMENT FORWARD FROM HONG KONG'S LATEST PACKAGE THIS COULD
WELL BE RECIPROCATED BY SIMILAR MOVEMENT FROM THE COMMUNITY
CONFIDENTIAL
SIDE.
15.