CONFIDENTIAL
MDHOAN 635
POINT THAT THE TIME IS LIMITED AND THAT BOTH SIDES SHOULD CONCENTRATE ON THE SUBSTANTIVE POLITICAL ISSUES OF INTEREST TO BOTH (THESE INCLUDE ITEMS B AND C PROPOSED BY THE TWELVE).
BILATERAL MEETING: 1500-1800, 25 SEPTEMBER
5. THIS MEETING'S MAIN PURPOSE IS TO ALLOW THE TWO FOREIGN MINISTERS TO DISCUSS MATTERS OF MUTUAL CONCERN AS PART OF THE INTENSIFIED CONSULTATION AND COOPERATION OVER HONG KONG ISSUES PROVIDED FOR IN THE AIRPORT MOU. PRECISELY IN ORDER TO ALLOW SUFFICIENT SCOPE FOR IN DEPTH DISCUSSION (RATHER THAN THE PRETTY INSUBSTANTIAL EXCHANGES IN MARCH), THE TWO SIDES HAVE AGREED ON A THREE-HOUR MEETING. SUBJECT TO LAST MINUTE FLURRIES, THERE WILL BE NO NEED FOR ANY DISCUSSION OF INTERNATIONAL ISSUES (OR HUMAN RIGHTS) WHICH WILL BE COVERED AT THE TROIKA MEETING. WE ACCEPT, HOWEVER, THAT SOME BRIEF EXCHANGES, IF ONLY GRACE NOTES, ABOUT BILATERAL ISSUES (PRINCIPALLY VISITS, TRADE ETC) WILL BE EXPECTED BY THE CHINESE. WE THEREFORE PROPOSE THE FOLLOWING AGENDA:
A. BILATERAL ISSUES.
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B. HONG KONG ISSUES.
6. IN PUTTING THIS TO THE CHINESE, AND SUBJECT TO COMMENTS FROM THE GOVERNOR, YOU SHOULD SAY THAT WE SHALL WANT NEARER THE TIME TO FLAG UP THE SPECIFIC HONG KONG ISSUES ON WHICH DISCUSSION (AND PROGRESS) AT THIS LEVEL WILL BE NECESSARY. A GOOD DEAL WILL DEPEND ON JLG XXIV, BUT WE SHALL ALSO HAVE OTHER MATTERS TO PROPOSE. WE LOOK TO THE CHINESE, SIMILARLY, TO GIVE US ADEQUATE NOTICE OF SUBJECTS THEY MAY WISH TO AIR.
7. WE SHALL INSTRUCT SIR R MCLAREN TO PUT MORE DETAILED PROPOSALS FOR ITEM B TO THE MFA AND HKMO DURING HIS CALLS ON HIS RETURN TO PEKING. ON CURRENT THINKING THESE WOULD INCLUDE:-
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A BROAD OUTLINE OF THE DECISIONS TO BE ANNOUNCED IN THE GOVERNOR'S LEGCO ADDRESS ON EXCO/LEGCO, AND THE PROPOSALS ON ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE 1995 ELECTIONS.
CIVIL SERVICE ISSUES (HK TELNO 2235)
THE AIRPORT.
AIR SERVICES.
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CONFIDENTIAL