31
CONFIDENTIAL
HKK 040/12.
GRS350
CONFIDENTIAL
DESK BY FCO 15120OZ
DESKBY PEKING 15233OZ
FM HONG KONG 15105OZ FEB 85
TO IMMEDIATE F C O
TELEGRAM NUMBER 359 OF 15 FEBRUARY
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
30
YOUR TELNO 263: HONG KONG AGREEMENT : RATIFICATION
in
и
LAS
1. I TAKE THE POINT OF PARA 2 OF YOUR TUR AND MUST ACCEPT YOUR JUDGMENT OF THE PARLIAMENTARY CONSIDERATIONS.
2. I CAN SEE THE MERIT OF THE COURSE PROPOSED IN YOUR PARA 3. AND HOWEVER, I AM NOT ENTIRELY CONVINCED WE NEED TO ACT NOW: THERE MIGHT BE ADVANTAGE IN PLAYING IT A LITTLE LONGER. ZHOU NAN HAVING PUT DOWN A MARKER ON THE QUESTION OF THE DATE OF RATIFICATION (PARA 1 OF PEKING TELNO 182 TO YOU), THE CHINESE HAVE PUT THEMSELVES IN THE POSITION OF DEMANDEUR AND WE MAY BE ABLE TO MAKE SOME MILEAGE OUT OF THIS (SEE PARA 3 OF MY
TELNO 321).
3. IN ANY CASE, I NEED TO SPEAK FIRST TO EXCO ON THIS ISSUE BEFORE WE GO INTO BAT WITH THE CHINESE, I SHALL BE TAKING THEIR ADVICE ON THE COMPOSITION OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP, AT A MEETING NOW FIXED FOR MARCH 1. (THE AGENDA FOR FEB 26 IS ALREADY HEAVY: IT IS BUDGET WEEK). (1 AM TELEGRAPHING SEPARATELY ON THE J.L.G.).
3. MY RECOMMENDATION IS THEREFORE THAT WE SHOULD NOT (NOT) TAKE THE INITIATIVE AT THIS STAGE IN TALKING TO THE CHINESE. INTERNALLY, OF COURSE, WE WOULD CONTINUE TO WORK TOWARDS COMPLETING ALL THE NECESSARY PROCEDURES BY THE MIDDLE OF MAY TO ENABLE RATIFICATION IN THE LAST WEEK OF MAY. IN THE MEANTIME, IF THE CHINESE REVERTED TO THE TIMING OF RATIFICATION, I SUGGEST THE AMBASSADOR SHOULD EXPLAIN WHAT IS REQUIRED (ALONG THE LINES OF PARA 5 OF YOUR TUR),
CONFIDENTIAL
1
SAY
?