CODE 18-77
BENABL
Mr C Osborne
News Department
W 21
RESTRICTED
Reference.......
HKC 062
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
- 6 OCT 1987
4.99...
QISK OFFICER
REGISTRY
NICEX
PA
Action Taken
DEFENCE AND PUBLIC ORDER: EXPERT TALKS
1.
We discussed these talks two days ago. The press line which is to be issued in Hong Kong on 2 October and can be used here if there is any press interest in London is as follows:
"An expert meeting on defence and public order will be held between the British and Chinese sides on 6-8 October in Beijing.
This follows discussion at the seventh meeting of the Joint Liaison Group in London in July, when the British and Chinese sides had a further exchange of views on the implementation of the provisions of the Joint Declaration relating to defence and public order. The British side will be led by Mr CO Hum, head of Hong Kong Department at the FCO, who will be assisted by other experts from the British and Hong Kong Governments".
2.
If questioned about the names of the British side, you can say that the Hong Kong Government experts will be Mr R I W Upton, Deputy Secretary for Security, and Mr D Y K Tsang, Deputy Secretary/General Duties, and that the British Government experts will include officials from the Ministry of Defence.
3.
If asked who the Chinese experts are, you can say you understand that the Chinese team will be led by Mr Wang Jiaji, of the MFA, and will include officials from the Ministries of National Defence and Public Security.
4.
For your information, the talks will take place under the auspices of the Joint Liaison Group and will discuss British and Chinese responsibilities for defence and public order in Hong Kong up to and after 1997. The talks will take place in Beijing. We aim to agree a brief press line with the Chinese side at the end of the talks.
2 October 1987
R. Footman
R C L Footman
Hong Kong Department WH 312 270 2651
RESTRICTED