GRS 288
CONFIDENTIAL
FM PEKING
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1392
OF 06O7OOZ AUGUST 87
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
194
Confidential
HKC 175/2
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
- 6 AUG 1987
YOUR TELNO 703: HONG KONG AND THE IMO
92
DESK OFFICER
Y
INDEX
PA
Action weken
1.
WE ARE NOT SURE THAT IT WOULD BE ALTOGETHER HELPFUL TO SUGGEST TAKING JOINT ACTION ON THE FIRST BATCH BEFORE THE END OF THIS YEAR. THE MAIN PURPOSE OF EXAMINING WITH THE CHINESE HONG KONG'S MEMBERSHIP OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS IN BATCHES IS SURELY TO FOCUS ATTENTION IN THE JLG AND IRO SUB-GROUP, IN AN ORDERLY AND STRUCTURED WAY, ON GROUPS OF ORGANISATIONS IN ORDER OF IMPORTANCE AND PRIORITY. ONCE AGREEMENT HAS BEEN REACHED, WE DO NOT THINK THAT IT WOULD BE ADVANTAGEOUS ALSO TO TAKE JOINT ACTION WITH THE ORGANISATIONS CONCERNED IN THE SAME WAY: THE PRACTICALITIES OF HONG KONG'S MEMBERSHIP, OR CONTINUED MEMBERSHIP, VARY IN COMPLEXITY FROM ORGANISATION TO ORGANISATION, IF THE OBJECT OF SUGGESTING TO THE CHINESE THAT WE TRY TO COMPLETE JOINT ACTION ON THE FIRST BATCH BEFORE THE END OF THIS YEAR IS INTENDED AS A MILD PRESSURE TACTIC, DESIGNED TO FOCUS THEIR ATTENTION ON THE NEED TO MAKE PROGRESS ON IT IS OUTSTANDING CASES, WE DOUBT THAT IT WILL HAVE MUCH EFFECT. MORE LIKELY SIMPLY TO DELAY ACTION ON THOSE ORGANISATIONS WHERE AGREEMENT HAS BEEN REACHED. THERE IS ALSO SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR NOT BUNCHING TOGETHER OUR WORK WITH THE CHINESE, SHORTLY BEFORE TAKING JOINT ACTION WITH THE ORGANISATIONS CONCERNED, ON DRAFT SPEAKING NOTES, TIMING OF APPROACHES ETC.
2. ON BALANCE, WE WOULD MUCH PREFER TO DEAL WITH EACH CASE PIECEMEAL, AS IT BECOMES RIPE FOR JOINT ACTION TO BE TAKEN. THIS WOULD NOT PRECLUDE US FROM REMINDING THE CHINESE THAT IT WOULD BE DESIRABLE TO COMPLETE ACTION ON ALL THE FIRST BATCH ORGANISATIONS BEFORE WE BEGIN TO FOCUS IN DEPTH ON THOSE IN SUBSEQUENT BATCHES.
THOMSON
PEHPAN 3651
HONG KONG AGREEMENT: RESTRICTED
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
RES DEPT (FE)
DEP/HD.PUSD
PS/LORD GLENARTHUR
PS/MR EGGAR
COPIES TO: MR FIFOOT
MR MCLAREN MR CILLMORE
LEGAL ADVISERS
Confidential