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FM UKREP JLG HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 82
OF 12042OZ MARCH 92
SECRET
HKA 233/1
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, PEKING
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164105 MDHIAN 6486
TOP COPY 1313 Q DIST?
YOUR TELNO 192 TO PEKING: HMOCS: BRIEFING THE CHINESE.
1.
WE DO NOT THINK THAT THIS ISSUE IS MORE DIFFICULT THAN OTHERS ON WHICH WE CONSULT THE CHINESE, AND WE DO NOT MAKE THE RIGID DISTINCTION BETWEEN INFORMATION AND CONSULTATION WHICH YOU IMPLY. IT IS TRUE THAT WE ARE ANGLING OUR COMMUNICATION WITH THE CHINESE IN SUCH A WAY AS TO DISCOURAGE THEM TO SEEK TO INTERVENE. ON THE OTHER HAND, IF THEY SAY THEY HAVE VIEWS TO OFFER WE SHALL PRESUMABLY HAVE TO AGREE TO LISTEN TO THEM. AS WE ALWAYS DO, WE SHALL HOWEVER MAINTAIN THE RIGHT TO ACT ULTIMATELY AS WE THINK NECESSARY. IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, WE SHOULD BE BASING THIS NOT ON THE PROVISION OF THE JOINT DECLARATION PROVIDING FOR HMG TO ADMINISTER HONG KONG UNTIL 1997, BUT ON THE FACT THAT THIS IS A MATTER OF THE DISCHARGE OF OBLIGATIONS BETWEEN HMG AND ITS OWN
CIVIL SERVANTS.
2.
IF THE CHINESE CLAIM THAT THIS WAS IN BREACH OF THE COMMITMENTS WHICH MINISTERS GAVE THEM LAST YEAR, WE WOULD DENY THIS. WE ARE GIVING THEM ADVANCE INFORMATION OF WHAT WE INTEND: IF THEY HAVE VIEWS, WE SHALL LISTEN TO THEM (THOUGH WE DO NOT PROPOSE TO INVITE THEM IN THE FIRST INSTANCE). MINISTERS HAVE NEVER GIVEN A
COMMITMENT TO ALLOW THE CHINESE A VETO.
GALSWORTHY
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.HONG KONG AGREEMENT
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