(185
GA 260
SECRET
f..
ING 2506452 SEP 79
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
SECRET
TELEGRAM NUMBER 776 OF 6 SEPT 79
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
Hill Ouoli
:
190
BELOVED IN REGISARY NO. 51
- 7 SEP 1979
DESK OFFICER
INDEX.
No
FOLLOWING FOR QUANTRILL, HKGD AND SAMUEL, FED
RE ISTRY
PA
Action Talay
879
YOUR TELNO 703 TO HONG KONG: NEW TERRITORIES LEASES
MY TELEGRAM CROSSED YOURS BUT I DO NOT WISH TO CHANGE
MY RECOMMENDATION.
2. I AGREE THAT IT WOULD BE WRONG TO BADGER THE CHINESE FOR A REPLY IN ORDER TO MEET THE 10 OCTOBER DEADLINE, BUT I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS WAS EVER ENVISAGED, EITHER IN THE GOVERNOR'S LETTER OR EARLIER. WHAT 1 PROPOSE IS TO MENTION MY JULY MEETING TO SONG AND GIVE HIM AN OPENING. IF THE CHINESE DO NOT RESPOND, WE SHOULD NOT PRESS THEM. 1 FEAR THAT TO REMAIN COMPLETELY SILENT WOULD MISS A VALUABLE OPPORTUNITY FOR CLARIFICATION SEMICLN WOULD GIVE THE IMPRESSION THAT WE WERE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT AN EARLY SOLUTION TO THE LEASES QUESTION SEMICLM AND WOULD MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO CONVINCE THE CHINESE THAT SUCH STEPS WERE NECESSARY AT THE POINT IN THE FUTURE WHEN WE FEEL WE CAN NO LONGER DELAY.
**
I AM AFRAID I CANNOT AGREE WITH THE LAST SENTENCE OF YOUR PARAGRAPH 1. ALTHOUGH I ACCEPT THAT HAVING BEEN PROMISED A
་
REPLY BY LI JUSHENG IT WILL NOW BE MORE DIFFICULT TO GO AHEAD WITHOUT IT, THE ORIGINAL IDEA WAS THAT WE MIGHT HAVE TO INTERPRET SILENCE AS ACQUIESCENCE (PARA 3 OF HK TELNO 518 REFERS).
AT
NO STAGE DID WE ASK FOR CHINESE APPROVAL FOR OUR PROPOSED
ACTION, AND BOTH THE POLITICAL ADVISER AND I ASSURED THE CHINESE THAT NO ACTION WAS REQUIRED ON THEIR PART.
HK TELNO 1962),
CANDOO
$8 Calen
に
(MY TELNO 622 AND
LEGAL ADV
4. Cet7AZZJ MO. MULAMY
SECRET