GRS 200
CONFIDENTIAL
FM WASHINGTON
TO ROUTINE FCO
TELNO 739
CONFIDENTIAL
+4414 04012
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
2 6 MAR 1986
118
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
REGISTRY
PA
Action Boxen
OF 24221OZ MARCH 86
INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG, UKREP BRUSSELS, UKMIS GENEVA, PEKING
115
114
YOUR TELNO 514 AND HONG KONG TELNO 877: HONG KONG/GATT
1. SMITH (DEPUTY USTR) WELL UNDERSTANDS WHY WE WOULD NOT (NOT) WANT A NEGATIVE US STATEMENT. THAT IS WHY HE ADVISED US NOT TO
PUT THE AMERICANS INTO THE POSITION OF HAVING TO TAKE A PUBLIC VIEW
ON THE SITUATION POST-1997.
2. WE SHOULD THEREFORE PREFER TO AWAIT THE FULLER BRIEFING ON THE GATT ARRANGEMENTS PROMISED IN YOUR TELNO 489, PARA 1, BEFORE RETURNING TO THE CHARGE WITH SMITH. WE HAVE HOWEVER BRIEFED THE CHINA DESK IN STATE, WHO ARE FULLY AWARE OF THE POLITICAL IMPORTANCE OF THIS ISSUE AND THE NEED TO AVOID ANY US STATEMENT THAT MIGHT MAKE DIFFICULTIES FOR US.
WRIGHT
THIS TELEGRAM WAS NOT ADVANCED
HONG KONG AGREEMENT : RESTRICTED
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
RESEARCH D (FE)
DEP/HD PUSD PS/MR RENTON MR WILSON
COPIES TO:
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS MR WOOD LEGAL ADVISERS
CONFIDENTIAL