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4. YOU ALSO OMIT REFERENCE TO THE POWER TO VARY EXISTING LEASES.
I ATTACH IMPORTANCE (FOR LOCAL PRESENTATIONAL REASONS) TO ITS
INCLUSION.
TO SUM UP :
(A) I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ACCEPT ALTERNATIVE B IN PARA 2 OF YOUR
TELNO 98 PROVIDING THAT ''ADMINISTER'' IS SUBSTITUTED FOR ''POSSESS'' AND THE POINT ABOUT VARYING LEASES IS EITHER INCLUDED IN THAT CLAUSE OR A SAVING ONE :
(B) I AM CONVINCED THAT WE MUST TRY TO PROVIDE FOR CONTINUING
JURISDICTION AFTER 1997. I WOULD PREFER TO DO THIS AS IN PARA 3 OF ANNEX A TO MY LETTER OF 21 DECEMBER. AS AN ALTERNATIVE, HOWEVER,
I WOULD SETTLE FOR THE MORE OBLIQUE FORMULA SUGGESTED BY THE FCO LEGAL ADVISERS AS IN PARA 4 OF ANNEX B TO THE SAME LETTER.
5. IT IS NOW BECOMING IMPORTANT TO RESOLVE THIS MATTER QUICKLY. I DO NOT WISH TO QUIBBLE UNNECESSARILY OVER THE WORDING OF DRAFTS. NEVERTHELESS I THINK WE MUST HAVE A DRAFT ORDER WHICH
BOTH COVERS OUR ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS HERE AND IS AS LIKELY TO WIN CHINESE ACCEPTANCE AS WE CAN MAKE IT.
MACLEHOSE
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FILE S:
H K & G D (6)
FED
MR MURRAY
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COPIES TO:
MR RUSHFORD, LEGAL ADVISER