CONFIDENTIAL
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IN TIME FOR JLGVI. WE SHOULD THEREFORE BE GRATEFUL FOR
CONFIRMATION DESKBY 080930Z THAT YOU HAVE NO OBJECTION TO
WASHINGTON SPEAKING ALONG THE FOLLOWING LINES:
4。
·
RATIFICATION OF THE NEW TREATY WILL TAKE PLACE AT A
DELICATE POINT IN OUR DEALINGS WITH THE CHINESE. WE ARE
CURRENTLY LOOKING AT THE WHOLE QUESTION OF EXTRADITION
ARRANGEMENTS FOR HONG KONG POST-1997 AND HOPE TO ENGAGE
THEM IN DISCUSSION OF THIS SUBJECT IN THE NEXT FEW
MONTHS. IT WOULD BE INADVISABLE TO ASK THEM TO CONSIDER
ANY NEW EXTRADITION TREATY IN RELATION TO HONG KONG
BEFORE WE APPROACH THEM ON THE WIDER ISSUE. WE WOULD
PREFER CONSULTATION ON AN INDIVIDUAL TREATY TO TAKE PLACE
IN PARALLEL TO DISCUSSIONS ON GENERAL POLICY. WE
THEREFORE HOPE THE AMERICANS WILL ACCEPT THAT THE
SUSPENSION OF THE NEW TREATY IN RELATION TO HONG KONG
SHOULD LAST FOR A FEW MONTHS WHILE WE FINALISE THE LINE
WE WILL BE TAKING WITH THE CHINESE. WE EXPECT TO OPEN
DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE IN MARCH 1987. WE WILL PUT
THE NEW TREATY TO THEM AT THAT STAGE AND THEREAFTER WOULD
EXPECT A RESPONSE FROM THEM WITHIN 40 DAYS. WE WILL OF
COURSE IN THE MEANTIME KEEP THE AMERICANS INFORMED OF
PROGRESS.
IT WILL STILL BE NECESSARY TO SAY SOMETHING TO THE
CHINESE ABOUT THE NEW TREATY BEFORE 17 DECEMBER. OTHERWISE THEY
MAY BECOME AWARE OF IT, BUT NOT KNOW THAT IT HAS BEEN SUSPENDED
IN RESPECT OF HONG KONG PENDING CONSULTATION WITH THEM. WE WILL
SEND INSTRUCTIONS FOR PEKING TO ACT ONCE WE HAVE CLEARED OUR
LINES WITH THE AMERICANS.
5.
A FINAL POINT. WE WOULD NOT, AS A GENERAL RULE, WANT TO
DEFER CONSULTING THE CHINESE ON A PARTICULAR TREATY SIMPLY
BECAUSE THAT TREATY RELATED TO AN AREA WHICH WE WERE INTENDING TO
DISCUSS IN MORE DETAIL WITH THEM IN DUE COURSE OR BECAUSE WE FELT
THE CHINESE WOULD INSIST ON DISCUSSING WIDER ISSUES (PARA 2 OF
YOUR TUR), SUCH AN APPROACH WOULD SEEM TO OVERLOOK THE REASON
FOR HAVING THE GUIDELINES IN THE FIRST PLACE: TO ENSURE THAT NEW
AGREEMENTS CAN BE EXTENDED TO HONG KONG WITHOUT UNDUE DELAY WHILE
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CONFIDENTIAL