(314)
OCMIAN 4391
CONFIDENTIAL
PP NEDEL
FM FCOLN TO NEDEL
021630Z MAY
GRS 337
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO PRIORITY NEW DELHI
TELNO 494
OF 021630Z MAY 86
INFO PRIORITY UKMIS GENEVA, HONG KONG, PEKING
312
(313)
UKMIS GENEVA TELNOS 217 AND 222: HONG KONG AND GATT
1.
CLEARLY IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF THE INDIANS COULD BE
PERSUADED TO ISSUE UNAMBIGUOUS INSTRUCTIONS TO SHUKLA BEFORE THE
22 MAY COUNCIL. GRATEFUL THEREFORE IF YOU COULD MAKE A LOW-KEY
APPROACH TO MFA TO DETERMINE WHETHER SHUKLA WILL BE (HAS BEEN)
TOLD TO ACCEPT THE DECLARATIONS MAKING HONG KONG A CONTRACTING
PARTY WITHOUT COMMENT.
2.
IN MAKING THIS APPROACH YOU MAY IF NECESSARY, AND AT YOUR
DISCRETION, DRAW ON THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL POINTS.
A)
WE ARE ENGAGED IN A LONG AND DIFFICULT TASK IN
IMPLEMENTING THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION ON HONG KONG. WE
HAVE UNDERTAKEN RESPONSIBILITY FOR ADMINISTERING HONG KONG
EFFECTIVELY AND MAINTAINING ITS STABILITY AND PROSPERITY UNTIL
1997. WE HOPE OUR FRIENDS WILL SUPPORT US IN THIS: WE BELIEVE IT
TO BE IN EVERYONE'S INTEREST.
B)
THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR AFFECTING CONFIDENCE IN
HONG KONG'S FUTURE IS THAT EFFECTIVE ARRANGEMENTS SHOULD BE MADE
FOR THE TERRITORY TO CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE FULLY AND FREELY IN
THE COMMERCE OF THE FREE WORLD AND IN ITS TRADING INSTITUTIONS,
OF WHICH THE MOST IMPORTANT IS THE GATT. THIS PRINCIPLE WAS
HKK 100/1
REGNED
SINY
12 MAY 1986
1
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
24201
1