COMMENT
CONFIDENTIAL
5. WE SHALL NEED TO AWAIT CONFIRMATION FROM THE CHINESE SIDE, PROBABALY TOMORROW, BUT IT LOOKS AS THOUGH WE
MAY BE HOME AND DRY. OUR INITIAL VIEW IS THAT IT
WOULD BE BETTER TO CARRY OUT THE EXCHANGES OF NOTES ON 13
APRIL. THE SIGNING CEREMONY, WHICH IS LIKELY TO BE AT
THE BEGINNING OF THE FIRST ROUND OF TALKS WITH WU XUEQIAN ON 16
APRIL, WILL BE GIVEN PUBLICITY, AND WE THINK THAT IT WOULD BE
DESIRABLE FOR THE OTHER TWO EXCHANGES OF NOTES NOT TO BE
INCLUDED IN THIS PUBLICITY. THIS IS ALSO THE POLITICAL ADVISERS
VIEW. GRATEFL FOR CONFIRMATION THAT YOU AGREE WITH THIS.
6. WE SEE NO DIFFICULTY IN CARRYING OUT THE EXCHANGES OF NOTES BEFORE THE SIGNATURE OF THE CONSULAR AGREEMENT, SINCE THAT ON THE VISA OFFICE WILL NOT COME INTO EFFECT UNTIL
LEGISLATION IS PASSED IN HONG KONG, AND THAT ON THE TRANSIT
OF CHINESE NATIONALS THROUGH HONG KONG IS IN PRACTICE
ALREADY IN FORCE AS AN ORAL AGREEMENT.
EVANS
LIMITED
HKD
NTD
FED
PROTOCOL. D.
CONSULAR.D.
LEGAL ADVISERS
MVD
PS
PS/MR. LUCE
SIR. W.HARDING MR. WILSON
LORD. N. GORDON
LENMOX
2
CONFIDENTIAL