GR 200
SECRET
FUTURE EGRET
FM HONG KONG 14113OZ MAR 84
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
SECRET
TELEGRAM NUMBER 692 OF 14 MARCH
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING (PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR)
PERSONAL FOR CRADOCK FROM GOVERNOR
(126)
TOP COPY
HK Kogo/14
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
OMAR 1784
REGISTRY
Act
Can Taken
28163
133
YOUR TELNO 212 TO PEKING: FUTURE EGRET: POSSIBLE FORM OF AGREEMENT
1. I HAVE NOT HAD TIME TODAY TO CONSIDER THE VARIOUS SCENARIOS
OUTLINED IN YOUR TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE AND WILL THEREFORE
COMMENT WHEN I HAVE SEEN THE AMBASSADOR'S VIEWS. BUT THERE IS ONE POINT I SHOULD MAKE NOW. THIS IS THAT WHATEVER FORM IT EVENTUALLY
TAKES THE DRAFT AGREEMENT WE PUT TO THE CHINESE WILL BE AN
ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL DOCUMENT. EXCO WILL WISH TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON IT AT THE FORMATIVE STAGE, AND WILL NEED ADEQUATE TIME TO ABSORB AND STUDY IT. I THEREFORE VERY MUCH HOPE THAT YOU WILL AGREE THAT I SHOULD SHOW THE DRAFT AGREED AT OFFICIAL LEVEL TO THEM AT THE SAME TIME THAT IT IS SUBMITTED TO MINISTERS,
AND ALLOW THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO TAKE THEM CAREFULLY THROUGH IT ON THE CLEAR UNDERSTANDING THAT MINISTERS HAVE NOT YET CONSIDERED IT
AND THAT NO DECISIONS HAVE BEEN TAKEN. I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT IF WE
ADOPT THIS PROCEDURE IT WOULD GREATLY FACILITATE THE PROCESS OF OBTAINING EXCO'S EVENTUAL ENDORSEMENT.
2. I HAVE TELEGRAPHED SEPARATELY MY COMMENTS ON THE DRAFT
MAXIMALIST AGREEMENT IN YOUR TELNO 203 TO PEKING.
YOUDE
LIMITED
HD/HKD HD/FED
MR WILSON
(20
COPIES TO:-
SIR P CRADOCK
MR BURROWS LEGAL ADVISERS
SECRET
see
137)