31
OO HONG KONG
GRS 190
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO 221539Z FEB 85
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 310 OF 22 FEBRUARY 1985
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
34)
39
TOP COPY
8798 1
HKK 040/12
2 SFEB 1935
DI
YOUR TELNO 359 AND PEKING TELNO 208: HONG KONG AGREEMENT
RATIFICATION
1. IN LIGHT OF TURS, WE AGREE THAT WE SHOULD DELAY APPROACHING THE CHINESE ABOUT THE DATE OF RATIFICATION, ALTHOUGH WE ARE DOUBTF -UL WHETHER THIS DELAY WILL GIVE US MUCH LEVERAGE.
2. IF, HOWEVER THE CHINESE APPROACH US AGAIN ABOUT THE DATE OF RATIFICATION, THE AMBASSADOR HAS AUTHORITY TO SPEAK AS IN PARAS 5 AND 6 OF OUR TELNO 263 TO HONG KONG AND TO SAY THAT WE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO RATIFY AT THE END OF MAY, ALTHOUGH WE CANNOT GIVE A FIRM COMMITMENT.
3.
IF THE CHINESE DO NOT RAISE THE DATE WITH US, WE THINK WE SHOULD PROPOSE IT TO THEM BEFORE THE COMMITTEE STAGE IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS ON 14 MARCH. OTHERWISE IT WILL BECOME APPARENT TO THE CHINESE THAT WE ARE NEAR TO COMPLETING OUR LEGISLATION AND WE MAY FACE PRESSURE FOR EARLIER RATIFICATION.
4.
PLEASE TAKE AN EARLY OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THIS MATTER WITH EXCO TO EXPLAIN THE APPROACH WE INTEND TO ADOPT.
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
* 5
Kf
htt
COPIES TO:(VIA ADR)
MR ROBERTS, NEWS DEPT
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS
MR BURROTS, LEGAL ADVISERS
MR MARTIN, ASST STAFF CABINET
OFFICE
MR CARTLEDGE. CABINET OFFICE
MR DRC CHRISTOPHER. CABINET OFF.
MR J CROWLEY, PUSD
CONFIDEN MAL