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CONFIDENTIAL
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B)
BASIC LAW DRAFTING COMMITTEE. THE SECRETARY OF STATE MIGHT
SAY THAT WE ARE GLAD TO NOTE THAT THERE WILL BE PEOPLE FROM HONG
KONG ON THE DRAFTING COMMITTEE. BOTH FOR PRACTICAL AND
PRESENTATIONAL REASONS ESSENTIALLY THEY SHOULD BE CREDIBLE
EXPERTS. WE HAVE HEARD THAT MEMBERS OF UMELCO AND THE HONG KONG
JUDICIARY ARE LIKELY TO BE APPOINTED TO THE COMMITTEE. THIS IS
WELCOME. VITALLY IMPORTANT TO GET THE BASIC LAW RIGHT.
C) AIR SERVICES. WE COULD NOTE THAT DTP/CAAC TALKS ARE SOON TO TAKE PLACE. AT PRESENT THERE IS A CONSIDERABLE IMBALANCE BETWEEN
THE LARGE NUMBER OF CAAC FLIGHTS TO HONG KONG AND THE SMALL
NUMBER OF BA AND CALLAY FLIGHTS TO CHINA. WE WOULD HOPE THAT THE
TALKS WOULD RESULT IN A FAIR AGREEMENT FOR HONG KONG'S INTERESTS.
RESULTS WILL BE NOTED AS AN INDICATOR OF FUTURE INTENTIONS.
D) LAND (DEFENSIVE). DEPENDING ON WHERE WE HAVE GOT TO, THE SECRETARY OF STATE MAY NEED TO RESIST CHINESE DEMANDS ON
COUNTERSIGNATURE OF NEW LEASES AND AN OFFICE IN HONG KONG WHICH
COULD RECEIVE REPRESENTATIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
E) DEFENCE AND KOHIMA (DEFENSIVE). WE SHALL NEED TO BE
PREPARED FOR POSSIBLE STRICTURES ON MAJOR-GENERAL BOORMAN'S RECENT STATEMENT AND TO EXPLAIN THAT ANY DECISION NOT TO PROCEED WITH KOHIMA WILL ONLY RESULT IN THE SIZE OF THE GARRISON RETURNING TO ITS PRE-1980 LEVEL. WE FULLY ACCEPT OUR
RESPONSIBILITY TO MAINTAIN STABILITY IN HONG KONG UP TO 1997.
GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS DESKBY 200830Z.
5.
HOWE
COPIES TO
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DISTRIBUTION
LIMITED
HKD
FED
PS
PS/MR LUCE
PS/PUS
SIR W HARDING MR WILSON
SIR P CRADOCK MO 10 DOWNING ST.
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CONFIDENTIAL