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CONFIDENTIAL
Redacted under FOI Exemption S 27(1)
076513
MOHIAN 49
WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO INDICATE TO THEM HERE THAT IF THEY BEHAVE MORE REASONABLY WE WILL INCREASE OUR CONSULTATION WITH THEM. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE DO NOT DAMAGE THAT IMPRESSION. GIVING THE LIST THE ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY WHICH IT WOULD ACQUIRE IF IT WERE A HIGH-LEVEL INITIATIVE WOULD MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO CONVINCE THE CHINESE THAT IT IS ONLY A STATEMENT OF THE ROUTINE FORTHCOMING BUSINESS OF THE JLG.
4. IN ORDER TO AVOID THIS, I WOULD WANT TO BE ABLE TO TELL THE CHINESE WHEN HANDING OVER THE LIST THAT THIS DID NOT REPRESENT THE SUM OF OUR VIEW OF WHAT THE JLG OUGHT TO BE DISCUSSING, BUT ONLY A FORECAST OF THE ROUTINE BUSINESS OF THE JLG WHICH WE THOUGHT IT LIKELY WE WOULD BE BRINGING FORWARD IN THE NEXT YEAR.
5. I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THE QUOTE SELECTION OF PRINCIPAL OFFICIALS UNQUOTE INCLUDED IN ITEMS WHICH THE BRITISH SIDE HOPED TO INTRODUCE IN THE COMING YEAR. MY IMPRESSION FROM THE GOVERNOR IS THAT HE DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT IT IS LIKELY TO BE POSSIBLE TO MOVE ON TO THIS VERY SENSITIVE SUBJECT QUITE SO EARLY. YOU MAY WISH TO DISCUSS THIS WITH HIM WHILE HE IS IN LONDON.
6. I HAVE CONSULTED HKG ON THIS: THEY AGREE WITH THE FOREGOING. THEY WILL TELEGRAPH SEPARATELY ON THE DETAIL OF THE LISTS.
GALSWORTHY
YYYY
DISTRIBUTION
60
MAIN
57
.HONG KONG AGREEMENT
.(RESTRICTED)
LIMITED
HKD
HD/FED
RESEARCH D (FE)
PUSD NEWS D
PS/MR MAUDE
PS/LORD BRABAZON
MR MCLAREN
MR BURNS
ADDITIONAL
3
MR WHOMERSLEY LEGAL ADVISERS MS BARRETT LEGAL ADVISERS
NNNN
MR FIFOOT LEGAL ADVISERS
PAGE
CONFIDENTIAL
2