GPS320
SECRET
FUTURE EGRET
DESKBY 13103OZ
FM HONG KONG 13095OZ SEP 84
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
SECRET
TELEGRAM NUMBER 2808 OF 13 SEPTEMBER
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
YOUR TELNOS 1789-90
FUTURE : EGRET : PART 3 OF THE WHITE PAPER
MKLICALLY SO
RECEIVED IN REUN
OD 3SEP 1984
COPY
DESK CI
INDEX
REGISTRY
Action Taken
11719
1. THE DRAFT IN YOUR SECOND TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE SEEMS TO US TO BE INADEQUATE TO MEET THE SATATED PURPOSE. IT EITHER REPEATS OR PARAPHRASES THE CONTENTS OF THE ANNEXES, BUT DOES NOT EXPLAIN THEM. WE APPRECIATE THAT THERE ARE OBVIOUS DANGERS IN INTERPRETING THE ANNEXES FOR THE PUBLIC IN HONG KONG AND ELSEWHERE IN A WAY WHICH MIGHT GIVE RISE TO CONTRADICTORY INTERPRETATION FROM THE CHINESE. BUT IN MOST AREAS, THERE IS AGREE- MENT BETWEEN US AND THE CHINESE ON WHAT THE ANNEXES ARE INTENDED TO DO: THE DIFFICULTIES HAVE ARISEN IN THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE INTENTIONS COULD BE SPECIFICALLY SPELT OUT IN THE TEXT OF THE AGREEMENT. THERE IS THEREFORE CONSIDERABLE SCOPE FOR FACTUAL EXPLANATIONS WHICH WOULD NOT (NOT) CREATE DIFFICULTIES FOR THE CHINESE.
2. I HAVE POINTED OUT AN ADDITIONAL DIMENSION TO THIS EXERCISE IN MY TELNO 2785. AS AN EXAMPLE WE CONSIDER IT NECESSARY TO POINT OUT THAT SOME OF THE MORE OBSCURE WORDING IS DESIGNED TO ENSURE CONTINUITY OF THE PRESENT SYSTEM OR AT LEAST THE ESSENTIAL PARTS OF IT. MIFT CONTAINS A HASTILY DRAFTED REVISED VERSION OF THE SECTION ON EXTERNAL RELATIONS TO ILLUSTRATE THIS GENERAL POINT. IT COULD NO DOUBT BE IMPROVED.
3. OUR RESOURCES HERE ARE EXCEEDINGLY STRETCHED IN SERVICING PEKING'S NEED FOR COMMENTS ON THE TEXT OF ANNEX 1 AND THE REMAINING TEXTS. THIS WORK IS OBVIOUSLY TOP PRIORITY, WE CANNOT THEREFORE DEPLOY OUR EXPERTS TO RECASTING PART 3 OF THE WHITE PAPER. WE HOPE THAT YOU CAN PRODUCE A REVISED TEXT ON THE LINES OUTLINED ABOVE AND TAKING THE TEXT IN MIFT AS A GUIDE. WE SHOULD ALSO LIKE THIS PART TO ANTICIPATE THE MAIN CRITICISMS/ QUERIES WHICH MAY BE MADE WHEN THE AGREEMENT IS PUBLISHED. WE ARE COMPILING A SEPARATE LIST OF THESE WHICH WE WILL SEND YOU TOMORROW.
4. IN THE LIGHT OF THE ABOVE YOU MAY WANT TO RECONSIDER THE PROPOSAL THAT THIS PART OF THE DRAFT SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE ON FRIDAY.
YOUDE
LIMITED
54
HD/HKD
COPIES TO:-
MR BURROWS
LEGAL ADVISERS LEGAL ADVISERS
HD/FED MR BOYD
MR FIFOOT
SIR P CRADOCK
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