wKió GUVERNMENT HUUSE
HUNG KUNG
31
7-31
8:06
PHGE 04
CONFIDENTIAL
Defensive Q and As
Wii.L the
British
side withhold authorising HKG to
ucyvulace ศต ASA with Austria until the Chinese side
have given their consent?
A.1
The UKG believe that there is good justification for
a Hong Kong/Austria ASA and therefore cannot see why authorization should be withheld. But before Hong Aully pruceeas Co паке arrangements for talks, we
would first like to know whether the Chinese side
have any specific concerns. After the ASA text has
been negotiated, it will of course be passed to the
Chinese side for comments in accordance with agreed
Q.2
A.2
Procedures.
Why have the UKG authorized Hong Kong to negotiate
before the Chinese side are consulted?
Authorization
is
only
an
internal
legal/administrative procedure whereby the UKG grants
Ilong Kong the necessary authority to enter into meyullallivus.
aoes not imply that talks will
commence right away; it certainly does not pre-empt
the Chinese side from raising any specific concerns regarding the proposed ASA. gutiana,
0.3
LU
Why do the British side wish to authorise Hong Kong ASAS before completing the separacion exercise with countries on the list of 247
negotiate
new