CODE 18-77
AWO Ltd.
7/84
Mr Thomas
Claims Dept
CHINA DISTRIBUTION:
CONFIDENTIAL
ORDER-IN-COUNCIL
Reference....
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3 ONO 1987
239
1.
Thank you for your minute of 16 November. Our main concern lies with the definition of "China" for the purposes of this Order. We are content that Mr Grainger's revision to the 1980 definition "the territory..." is not a breach of our 1972 undertakings to the PRC over the status of Taiwan.
2.
The
The definition at the moment would however appear to exclude Tibet. HMG recognises only Chinese suzerainty over Tibet, not sovereignty, which presumably means that we should not regard Tibet as territory controlled by the PRC. I understand that the exclusion of Tibet would not necessarily be unwelcome to you. We recently submitted to the Secretary of State recommending that we should drop suzerainty and tacitly acknowledge Chinese sovereignty. Secretary of State accepted the arguments in favour of the change, but felt that the time was not right. Thus, it is likely that in the future we shall recognise Chinese sovereignty over Tibet, and Tibet will be included within the definition of "territory" for the purposes of the Order. This need not be an objection to the Order as drafted, but if we are right on this point, a note should be made of the possible complication.
Paul Dinard
Paul Dimond
Far Eastern Department K266
270 2958
CC: Mr Lavers, HKD
Dr J Hoare, Research D
Mr Griffiths, Finance D
Mr Grainger, Legal Advisers
23 November 1987
SILAAA
CONFIDENTIAL
Mr Mom's
N24111 Mr Footman
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