749
SECRET
274
PAOLY
GRS 450 SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 15120OZ FCO
TELNO 2527
OF 151OOOZ NOVEMBER 85
INFO DESKBY 160100Z PEKING (PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR)
PERSONAL FOR WILSON AUS ASIA FROM GOVERNOR
JOINT LIAISON GROUP
REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT
(267
LOSTRY
HKK QUI
19 NOV 1985
AqB 19in
1. YOU WILL SEE FROM MY TELNO 2510 THAT EXCO THIS MORNING
AGREED THAT, IF THE COURSE YOU PROPOSE IS IN MINISTERS' JUDGMENT
THE BEST, THEY WILL NOT SEEK TO STAND IN THE WAY. SOME MEMBERS OF
THE COUNCIL TOOK THE VIEW THAT PROVIDED THE POSITION COULD PE HELD
TO A SIMPLE ORAL BRIEFING OF THE CHINESE ON WHAT HAD TAKEN PLACE THE
COURSE WAS TOLERABLE. BUT THERE WAS VERY CONSIDERABL SCEPTICISM
AMONG OTHER MEMBERS THAT, ONCE THE CHINESE HAD BEEN ALLOWED TO GET
THE ISSUE ON TO THE JLG AGENDA, THE POSITION COULD BE SO HELD.
IN THEIR VIEW HAVING GOT IT ON TO THE AGENDA THE CHINESE WILL NOT
ACCEPT AN EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION AND WILL USE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
EXERT GREAT PRESSURE ON HMG IN THE JLG TO CONCEDE THEM A DIRECT
ROLE IN OUR PLANS PARTICULARLY IN RELATION TO THE 187 REVIEW.
2. THERE WAS ALSO REAL CONCERN AMONG SOME MEMBERS ABOUT PUBLIC
PRESENTATION. THEY FEAR THAT IF THE CHINESE CAN CREATE THE IMPRESSION
THAT THEY HAVE BEEN GIVEN A SAY IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE
GOVERNMENT IT WILL BE ASSUMED THAT THEY WILL HAVE A SAY ON A LARGE
VARIETY OF OTHER MATTERS. IN OTHER WORDS, THE WRITING WILL BE ON THE
WALL FOR THE CREDIBILITY OF BRITISH ADMINISTRATION.
Redacted under FOI exemption sections 40
and 41.
і
3. THIS IS WHY THEY FIND IT DIFFICULT TO SEE WHY NO ATTEMPT IS
BEING MADE TO CONVICE THE CHINESE, BEFORE THE JLG MEETING THAT
GIVEN THE SENSITIVITIES ON BOTH SIDES THEIR ANXIETIES SHOULD BE
DISCUSSED INFORMALLY FIRST.
SECRET