5
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TELNO 87
OF 091705Z JANUARY 89
CONFIDENTIAL
HKB 373/1
TOP
10 JAN 289 DIST ?
N
INFO IMMEDIATE UKREP JLG HONG KONG, PEKING
146052 MDHOAN 2309
1-3
(94
YOUR TELNOS 70-72 AND 87, OUR TELNO 85 OF 1988 TO UKREP JLG HONG KONG, AND UKREP JLG TELNO 206 OF 1988: ADMISSION OF CERTAIN GOVERNMENT LAWYERS FOR PRIVATE PRACTICE
1.
95 '88)
WE REMAIN CONCERNED THAT THE CHINESE MAY STILL LINK YOUR PROPOSALS TO THE FOREIGN LAWYERS ISSUE AND REACT ADVERSELY. WE ASSUME THAT YOU HAVE CONSIDERED THIS AND CONCLUDED THAT THERE ARE GOOD REASONS FOR GOING AHEAD THIS EXERCISEAT THIS TIME: BUT TURS DO NOT THROW ANY LIGHT ON THIS.
2. WE APPRECIATE THAT THE ISSUES INVOLVED ARE DETAILED AND COMPLICATED. BUT THE SPEAKING NOTE AS DRAFTED IS IN DANGER OF SINKING UNDER ALL THE DETAIL WITHOUT CLEARLY INFORMING THE CHINESE OF WHAT IS PROPOSED AND REASSURING THEM THAT THEY NEED HAVE NO CONCERNS ON THE LINES THEY EXPRESSED DURING THE FOREIGN LAWYERS DEBATE. WE THEREFORE SUGGEST THAT THE SPEAKING NOTE BE REDRAFTED ON MUCH SIMPLER LINES, WITH A VIEW TO HANDING A COPY OF THE SPEAKING NOTE AND ALSO A FULLER EXPLANATORY NOTE TO THE CHINESE.. 3. THE SPEAKING NOTE MIGHT BE DRAFTED ON THE FOLLOWING LINES: (A) THE MAIN PROVISIONS OF THE REVIEW, AND WHY THESE ARE GOOD FOR HONG KONG:
(B) ASSURANCE THAT THE PRESENT PROPOSALS ARE IN NO WAY LINKED TO THE FOREIGN LAWYERS ISSUE. ILLUSTRATION OF HOW THE TWO SUBJECTS ARE DIFFERENT:
(C) ASSURANCE THAT THE PRESENT PROPOSALS DO NOT CONFLICT WITH THE
JD:
(D) EXTENT OF CONSULTATION IN HONG KONG AND ASSESSMENT OF REACTION FROM THOSE MOST CLOSELY CONCERNED, INCLUDING ASSESSMENT OF LIKELY CRITICISMS AND HOW THESE CAN BE CONTAINED.
THE EXPLANATORY NOTE COULD INCORPORATE THE DETAILED POINTS IN FIRST TUR.
4. WE ASSUME THAT YOU INTEND THAT UKREP JLG SHOULD BRIEF THE CHINESE ON THIS. SUBJECT TO YOUR VIEWS WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD AND CLEAR WITH UKREP JLG A REVISED DRAFT ON THE LINES WE SUGGEST, LET US HAVE A FURTHER OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON IT.
5. IN THE TIME AVAILABLE WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO CONSULT FULLY WITHIN THE FCO. WE WILL SEND YOU ANY FURTHER COMMENTS ON 10
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CONFIDENTIAL