GRS
CONFIDENTIAL
DESKBY 28083OZ FCO
DESKBY 28090OZ PEKING
CONFIDENTIAL OP COPY
TELEGRAM NUMBER 3629 OF 28 NOVEMBER
FM HONG KONG 28073OZ NOV 84
TO IMMEDIATE F C O
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
FOLLOWING PERSONAL FOR CRADOCK FROM GOVERNOR.
HKK 040/57.
RECEIVED ·
REGISTRY
2 8 NOV 1984
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
JAV
143
YOUR TELNO 2347 AND PEKING TELNO 2827.
HONG KONG AGREEMENT: PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT: HONG KONG ATTENDANCE.
1. AS REGARDS UNOFFICIALS OUR MINIMUM REQUIREMENT WILL BE THAT SIR
S Y CHUNG AND MR LOBO SHOULD BE INVITED AS THE SENIOR UNOFFICIAL
MEMBERS OF THE TWO COUNCILS.
2. WHETHER WE SHOULD WISH OTHER OFFICIAL OR UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE COUNCILS TO BE PRESENT WILL DEPEND FIRST ON WHO THE CHINESE INTEND TO INVITE AND WHETHER WE CAN SOLVE THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROBLEM OF GETTING UNOFFICIALS BACK FROM PEKING IN TIME TO ATTEND THE UMELCO LUNCH AND THE JOINT SESSION OF THE TWO COUNCILS ON DECEMBER 20. (I AM TELEGRAPHING SEPARATELY ON THIS).
3. AS REGARDS OFFICIALS I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE DAVIES TO ATTEND. THIS WOULD BE WELL RECEIVED HERE AS RECOGNITION OF THE PART PLAYED BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT BACK-UP TEAM WHOSE ROLE IN THE NEGOTIA- TIONS WAS CRUCIAL. (IT MAY NOT BE APPRECIATED IN LONDON THAT SOME 8 SECRETARIES AND 15 HEADS OF DEPARTMENT WERE INVOLVED, NEARLY 50 SENIOR OFFICIALS AND TOTAL OF 100 HONG KONG GOVERNMENT STAFF ALTOGETHER.) I CAN SEE THAT WE WOULD NOT WISH TO MAKE AN ISSUE OF THIS: ON THE OTHER HAND IT WOULD BE TAKEN AMISS IF MEMBERS OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WERE EXCLUDED WHERE MEMBERS OF THE F.C.O. AND EMBASSY WHO WERE NOT MEMBERS OF THE NEGOTIATING TEAM WERE INCLUDED.
4. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE BEST SOLUTION WOULD BE TO AGREE WITH THE CHINESE THAT THE OFFICIAL DELEGATIONS ON BOTH SIDES WILL INCLUDE
ONLY:
(A) THE MINISTERS INVOLVED:
(B) THE TWO NEGOTIATING GROUPS (IE THOSE WHO SERVED ON THE DELEGAT-
IONS AND WORKING GROUPS):
(C) MINISTERS' PERSONAL STAFFS.
(GIVEN THE SIZE OF THE HALLS IN THE GREAT HALL OF THE PEOPLE LUO'S CLAIM THAT THERE WOULD BE A SPACE LIMITATION IS UNCONVINCING.)
CONFIDENTIAL
/5. OTHERS