336
OO HONG KONG
GRS 206
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO 131730Z DECEMBER 84
CONFIDENTIAL
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 2483 OF 13 DEC
TOP COPY
356
HKK040/57
17 DEC 1934
Pa
nor
6387 - 1
Action Taken
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
YOUR TELNO 3782: PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO CHINA AND HONG KONG:
BRIEFING.
1. WE TAKE IT THAT IT IS THE COMPOSITION OF THE JLG AND THE LAND
COMMISSION WHICH YOU EXPECT UNOFFICIALS TO RAISE WITH THE
SECRETARY OF STATE.
2.
AS YOU KNOW, MINISTERS HAVE NOT/NOT TAKEN ANY DECISIONS ON
THE PRECISE COMPOSITION OF THESE BODIES. WE ARE BRIEFING THE
SECRETARY OF STATE TO TAKE THE FOLLOWING LINE:
(A) ON THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP, TO SAY AS HE DID IN THE HOUSE OF
COMMONS THAT HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WILL TAKE PART IN
THE BRITISH SIDE: THAT IT WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR
UNOFFICIAL HONG KONG REPRESENTATIVES TO TAKE PART IN WHAT
WILL BE A DIPLOMATIC BODY: BUT THAT ALL THE EXISTING
PROCEDURES FOR CONSULTATION WITH THE HONG KONG PEOPLE
(ESPECIALLY THROUGH EXCO) WOULD BE USED.
(B) ON THE LAND COMMISSION, TO SAY THAT ON A BODY DEALING WITH A
VERY TECHNICAL LOCAL MATTER SUCH AS THIS WE WOULD EXPECT THE
MAJORITY OF THE PARTICIPANTS ON THE BRITISH SIDE TO BE
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. IF ASKED THE SECRETARY OF
STATE WOULD ADD THAT SOME OF THESE OFFICIALS MIGHT WELL BE
HONG KONG CHINESE.
HOWE
HONG KONG AGREEMENT
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
HD/PLANNING STAFF
HD/PUSD
DEP HD/PUSD
RESEARCH DEPT (MR WALKER)
PS
PS/MR LUCE
PS/PUS
SIR W HARDING
MR WILSON
SIR J FREELAND
MR J CROWLEY, PUSD
COPIES TO:(VIA ADR)
MR ROBERTS, NEWS DEPT
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS MR BURROWS, LEGAL ADVISERS
MR MARTIN, ASST STAFF CABINET
OFFICE
MR CARTLEDGE, CABINET OFFICE MR COLVIN, CABINET OFFICE
SIR P CRADOCK, NO 10 DOWNING ST SIR P CRADOCK, ROOM K195
CONFIDENTIAL