CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 2150
OF 20140OZ OCTOBER 89
HKB 012/1
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
250
100402
MDHOAN 6067
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YOUR TELNO 3401: BASIC LAW: DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE
1.
WE AGREE WITH THE QUOTE DIVISION OF WORK UNQUOTE OUTLINED IN TUR, WITH ONE EXCEPTION. WE SERIOUSLY WONDER WHETHER THE PA
WE ALL ACCEPT SHOULD RAISE THE STATIONING OF TROOPS IN THE SAR. THAT WE ARE UNLIKELY TO GET ANYWHERE. IN PARTICULAR, FOLLOWING CHINESE REPRESENTATIONS AND STATEMENTS ABOUT THE RELOCATION OF HMS TAMAR THEY ARE LIKELY TO BE EXTREMELY IRRITATED THAT WE CONTINUE TO RAISE THIS POINT WHEN THEY HAVE MADE THEIR POSITION CLEAR. WE RUN THE OBVIOUS RISK OF PREJUDICING PROGRESS ON ANY OF THE OTHER BASIC LAW POINTS RAISED BY THE PA. GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS (AND ANY REACTION YOU HAVE HAD FROM NCNA TO THE PROPOSAL FOR THE PA'S VISIT).
2.
WE WOULD ALSO BE INCLINED TO CONSIDER VERY CAREFULLY NEARER THE TIME WHETHER THE GOVERNOR SHOULD RAISE THE SAME QUESTION. 3. ON PARAGRAPH 2 OF TUR, WE ACCEPT THAT THERE ARE GREAT POLITICAL AND PRESENTATIONAL DIFFICULTIES ABOUT RAISING WITH THE CHINESE NOW THE POSSIBILITY OF AMENDING THE BASIC LAW BEFORE 1997.
BUT IT IS A POINT WE MUST NOT LOSE SIGHT OF. WE WONDER IF YOU HAVE ANY VIEWS ABOUT WHEN IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO BROACH THE ISSUE.
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