Redacted Under FOI Exemption
Sec 27(1)(a)(c)(d)
SECRET
017057
MDHOAN 0416
THAT HE WOULD WISH TO SPELL OUT CLEARLY TO THE PRESS WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND WHY.
6. THE LOGIC OF THIS IS THAT WHILE WE WOULD SEEK TO USE THE IMMINENCE OF THE VISIT AS A LEVER OVER THE CHINESE, WE SHOULD TRY TO AVOID PUTTING OURSELVES IN THE ROLE OF DEMANDEUR OVER THE AIRPORT PROJECT ITSELF. ALTHOUGH I KNOW YOU WISH TO
ANNOUNCE THE TENDERING FOR THE BRIDGE IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THE TIMETABLE FOR COMPLETING THE PROJECT BY 1997, I THINK THE SECRETARY OF STATE WILL WANT TO AVOID GIVING THE CHINESE THE IMPRESSION THAT TIME PRESSURES GIVE THEM THE TACTICAL ADVANTAGE. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE YOUR VIEWS.
8. IF IT DOES NOT PROVE POSSIBLE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE IN
ADVANCE OF THE PEKING VISIT, THEN I THINK IT MAY BE WISER IF AT FIRST THE SECRETARY OF STATE WERE NOT ACCOMPANIED IN PEKING BY ANY TEAM FROM HONG KONG. MY THOUGHT IS THAT THIS WOULD GIVE TOO GREAT AN IMPRESSION OF ANXIETY ON OUR PART AND I AM GLAD THAT YOU TOLD THE CHINESE THAT THIS WAS NOT OUR CURRENT INTENTION. IT MIGHT BE BETTER IF THE SECRETARY OF STATE SPOKE TOUGHLY TO THE CHINESE LEADERSHIP IN THE KNOWLEDGE
THAT IF THEY SHOWED GREATER FLEXIBILITY HE COULD SUMMON A TEAM TO RESUME NEGOTIATIONS IN PARALLEL. BUT I IMAGINE THAT NO SUCH TEAM WOULD BE ABLE TO ENGAGE WITH LU PING HIMSELF UNLESS YOU PERSONALLY WERE LEADING IT. WE NEED TO THINK FURTHER ON THE TACTICS FOR THIS. AS YOU RECOGNISE THE SECRETARY OF STATE DOES NOT WISH TO PUT HIMSELF IN A POSITION WHERE HE WOULD HAVE TO ENGAGE IN, OR PRESIDE OVER, DETAILED FINANCIAL OR AIRPORT NEGOTIATIONS ON YOUR BEHALF.
WE SHOULD WELCOME SUCH FURTHER COMMENTS AS YOU CAN MANAGE BY 25080OZ, SO THAT WE CAN FORMULATE ADVICE FOR MINISTERS. HURD
9.
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