A
CONFIDENTIAL
37
112657
MDHIAN 8279
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 14140OZ F C O TELNO 134
OF 14120OZ JANUARY 91
a
TOP COPY
Q DIST?
HKB 182 12
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
MIPT:
THE WAY AHEAD
1.
WE CANNOT LET THE CHINESE REMARKS PASS UNCHALLENGED. THEIR DEMAND TO HAVE THE DECISIVE VOICE ON MAJOR MATTERS BETWEEN NOW AND 1997 IS A MAJOR THREAT TO OUR ABILITY TO ADMINISTER THE TERRITORY EFFECTIVELY. AS AN IMMEDIATE MOVE, IN PARTICULAR IN THE LIGHT OF CHEN ZUO'ER'S PRESS CONFERENCE, I AUTHORISED MACLEOD TO MAKE THE STATEMENT IN MIFT AT HONG KONG AIRPORT ON HIS RETURN ON 13 JANUARY. I HAVE SEPARATELY REPORTED FURTHER COMMENTS WHICH I MADE TO THE PRESS MYSELF ON 14 JANUARY.
2. IN ADDITION TO THIS IMMEDIATE COMMENT, I BELIEVE WE NEED TO GO FURTHER AND SPEAK QUICKLY AND CLEARLY TO THE CHINESE AT A SENIOR LEVEL IN BOTH LONDON AND PEKING. I ALSO NEED TO CONSIDER WHETHER OR NOT TO GO AHEAD WITH MY VISIT TO PEKING. I AM RECEIVING ADVICE FROM BOTH NON-OFFICIALS AND FROM MANY WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATION NOT TO GO, BUT TO RETURN INSTEAD TO LONDON FOR CONSULTATIONS. I AM HOWEVER INCLINED TO CONTINUE WITH THE VISIT, SUBJECT TO SOME EXTENT TO THE GULF CRISIS. TO CANCEL IT WOULD INCREASE THE SENSE OF CRISIS, AFTER WHICH IT WOULD SUBSEQUENTLY BE HARDER TO RE-ENGAGE. IF I AM TO GO HOWEVER, I NEED A COMMITMENT FROM THE CHINESE THAT DIFFERENCES WILL NOT BE HIGHLIGHTED AND THAT I WILL NOT BE TREATED IN THE WAY THAT OUR TEAM HAS BEEN TREATED. I WILL ALSO NEED MINISTERIAL BACKING FOR A STRONG MESSAGE TO PUT TO THE CHINESE.
WITH THESE CONSIDERATIONS IN MIND, I RECOMMEND THE FOLLOWING:
3 =
(A)
LORD CAITHNESS SHOULD IMMEDIATELY SUMMON JI CHAOZHU AND MAKE 4 POINTS TO HIM:
FIRST, THE CHINESE HAVE STATED THAT THE BRITISH DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO TAKE DECISIONS ON MAJOR MATTERS WHICH RELATE TO AND GO BEYOND 1997. IF SUCH A CONCEPT WERE ACCEPTED, IT WOULD UNDERMINE OUR ABILITY TO ADMINISTER
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