CONFIDENTIAL
173307 MDHOAN 3724
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO DESKBY 23010OZ HONG KONG
TELNO 415
OF 22150OZ FEBRUARY 90
HKC03110
EGISTR
TOP COPY DIST ?
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
27 FEB 1990
DESK OFFICER INDEX
REGISTRY
PA
Action Taken
OPEN SKIES: AREA OF APPLICATION
SUMMARY
1.
OUR DELEGATION AT THE OPEN SKIES CONFERENCE IN OTTAWA NEEDS INSTRUCTIONS ON DEFINITION OF UK TERRITORY FOR THE PURPOSE OF OPEN SKIES. WE INTEND TO EXCLUDE HONG KONG FOR THE REASONS BELOW. GRATEFUL FOR CONFIRMATION THAT YOU AGREE DESKBY 23090OZ.
DETAIL
2.
OPEN SKIES WAS PROMULGATED BY PRESIDENT BUSH AT THE NATO HEADS OF GOVERNMENT SUMMIT IN MAY LAST YEAAR. WE ENVISAGE A REGIME BETWEEN NATO AND WARSAW PACT MEMBERS PERMITTING OBSERVATION OF EACH OTHERS' TERRITORY BY AERIAL OVERFLIGHT ON THE BASIS OF NATIONAL QUOTAS. CAMERAS AND OTHER
INFORMATION-GATHERING EQUIPMENT MAY BE USED BUT SIGNALS INTELLIGENCE WILL BE PROHIBITED. THE FRAMEWORK OF A REGIME IS CURRENTLY BEING WORKED OUT BY ALLIANCE AND WARSAW PACT OFFICIALS AT THE OPEN SKIES CONFERENCE IN OTTAWA (ENDING ON 28 FEBRUARY), WITH A VIEW TO CONVENING A FOLLOW-UP CONFERENCE IN BUDAPEST
IN LATE APRIL/EARLY MAY AT WHICH WE WOULD EXPECT TO SIGN A TREATY. PARTICIPATION IS CURRENTLY LIMITED TO THE 23 MEMBERS OF NATO AND THE WARSAW PACT, BUT SEVERAL CSCE NEUTRALS HAVE EXPRESSED INTEREST IN JOINING IN THE FUTURE. CONSIDERATION OF WHETHER TO EXTEND BEYOND CSCE PARTICIPANTS' TERRITORY IS PREMATURE.
THE UK DELEGATION AT THE OTTAWA CONFERENCE HAVE ASKED FOR INSTRUCTIONS ON THE SCOPE OF UK TERRITORY. WE NEED TO SUBMIT TO MINISTERS OVER THE WEEKEND. WE INTEND TO RECOMMEND THAT HONG KONG SHOULD NOT/NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE DEFINITION OF UK TERRITORY
FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS:
A) THE OPEN SKIES TREATY IS OF UNLIMITED DURATION. WE WOULD NEED TO SEEK CHINESE AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE TO THE INCLUSION OF HONG KONG IF IT WAS INTENDED TO CONTINUE AFTER 1997.
1
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