SECRET
270)
outi
5778
1
OCMIAN 5778
SECRET
DD 15010OZ PEKIN
FM FCOLN TO HOKON
141430Z NOV
GRS 1300
SECRET
FM FCO
TO DESKBY 150100Z HONG KONG
TELNO 1788
OF 141430Z NOVEMBER 85
INFO DESKBY 150100Z PEKING
(269)
HKK 01111
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
19 NOV 1985
REGISTRY ¡Action Taken
AGB 19/1
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
YOUR TELNO 2505: JOINT LIAISON GROUP: REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT
IN HONG KONG
1.
MINISTERS WERE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SPEEDY ACTION TO
RECONVENE EXCO. THEY SEE THE ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS AS
FOLLOWS.
2.
THERE IS NO FORMAL WRITTEN AGENDA FOR EACH JLG MEETING,
AND IT IS MUCH BETTER THAT IT SHOULD REMAIN THIS WAY SO THAT WE
CAN AVOID ANY WRANGLE OVER ITS EXACT TERMS. THE AGENDA HAS
BEEN ESTABLISHED BY INFORMAL DISCUSSION AND UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN
THE TWO SIDES. DISCUSSION IN THE JLG REMAINS INFORMAL UNLESS AND
UNTIL WE START HANDING EACH OTHER WRITTEN STATEMENTS. THIS HAS
BEEN DELIBERATE POLICY ON OUR SIDE.
2.
! IN THIS CASE WE SEE NO NEED TO ACCEPT THE CHINESE PIECE OF
PAPER AS CONSTITUTING THE DEFINITION OF THE AGENDA ITEM. IN
FACT WE WOULD PROPOSE TO EXPLOIT THE DISTINCTION IN THE LAST
PARAGRAPH OF IT BETWEEN BRIEFING ON WHAT HAS ALREADY HAPPENED IN
HONG KONG AS A RESULT OF THE WHITE PAPER, AND CONSULTATIONS ABOUT
THE FUTURE. WE ENVISAGE THAT THE EMBASSY WOULD BE INSTRUCTED TO
SPEAK ALONG THE FOLLOWING LINES:
(A) WE HAVE NOTED THE CHINESE SUGGESTION, AND HAVE NO
OBJECTION TO AN EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER
(WHICH WE WOULD NOT DEFINE FURTHER) AT THE FORTHCOMING
1
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