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MDHIAN 3732
CONFIDENTIAL
FM PEKING
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 573
OF 280859Z MARCH 88
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
36
YOUR TELNO 772 TO HONG KONG: MIGA
HKC 102/1
SPAR 1966
1. PIGOTT CALLED ON WANG WEIYANG AT THE LATTER'S REQUEST ON 28 MARCH. WANG BEGAN BY APOLOGISING THAT THE CHINESE SIDE HAD FAILED TO MEET THE DEADLINE OF THE FORTY DAY CONSULTATION PERIOD. HE WENT ON TO RECALL THE BRITISH SIDE'S PROPOSALS BEFORE RESPONDING
CHINESE SIDE WITH THE FOLLOWING TWO POINTS:
FOR THE
A) THE CHINESE SIDE HAD NO (NO) OBJECTION TO THE APPLICATION OF THE MIGA CONVENTION TO HONG KONG BEFORE 1997 BY THE UK UPON ITS RATIFICATION OF THE CONVENTION.
B) AFTER 1997 THE CONVENTION COULD CONTINUE TO BE APPLIED TO THE HONG KONG SAR IF THE PRC HAD BECOME A PARTY TO THE CONVENTION. QUESTION COULD BE DISCUSSED IN THE JLG IN DUE COURSE.
2.
THIS
PIGOTT EXPRESSED THANKS AND UNDERTOOK TO REPORT. HE ASKED WHETHER THE PRC INTENDED TO ACCEDE TO THE CONVENTION AND, IF SO, IN WHAT TIMESCALE.
3. WANG REPLIED THAT IN RECENT MEETINGS WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE WORLD BANK, THE HEADS OF THE RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS OF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAD TOLD THE PRESIDENT THAT THEY WERE GIVING CHINA'S MEMBERSHIP OF MIGA ''POSITIVE CONSIDERATION''.
COMMENT
4. THIS IS A GRATIFYING, IF SURPRISING, OUTCOME.
EVANS
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