is rui shu
unlikely to agree to Soviet overflights of what will eventually be
their territory fand there would be an implied extension of
participants if we were to ask them). An option that would enable us to demonstrate maximum openness in permitting overlfights would be to include Hong Kong but only up to 1997 (the Open Skies treaty
itself will be of unlimited duration). Its potential usefulness to
not
negative us as a bargaining counter would be unlikely to outweigh the effects
and negotiations on the territory of Chinese hostility to permitting the Soviet overflights (Warsaw Pact airlines are not allowed to land in Hong
Kong; nor are naval visits permitted). We do not know to what extent the Soviet Union might wish to retain the option of overflights of Hong Kong at the risk of picking a fight with the Chinese (an overflight using in-flight refuelling could avoid Chinese territory). If the decision is to exclude Hong Kong altogether I suggest we try to tell the Russians in advance what we intend to do: they may be disinclined to argue as they will face their own problems with the Kurile Islands where ownership is disputed with the Japanese.
8.
The draft telegram of instructions reflects these points.
HDBADG
P LEVER