CONFIDENTIAL
Muk artz
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 10110OZ FCO
TELNO 2671
OF 100947Z NOVEMBER 92
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
constit.
47) 1 sent pa
045762189
MDHIAN 7573
TOP COPY Q DIST?
PERSONAL FOR RICKETTS, HKD, FROM GOVERNOR
PEKING PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR
UKREP JLG HONG KONG PERSONAL FOR GALSWORTHY
146 147
YOUR TELNO 1588 AND 1589 : HONG KONG: PAPER FOR OPD (K)
1.
THIS TELEGRAM CONTAINS OUR SUGGESTIONS FOR THE REDRAFT OF THE OPD (K) PAPER, INCLUDING OUR REASONS FOR SUGGESTING AN EARLY MEETING BETWEEN THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND QIAN. WE SUGGEST OMITTING THE REFERENCE TO THE CONVERSATION
REPORTED IN GOODSTADT'S MINUTE OF 31 OCTOBER. THAT WAS A FAIRLY LOW LEVEL CONVERSATION AND SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN AS
ESPECIALLY RELIABLE.
2. THE NEW PARAGRAPH ON WHAT WE MIGHT TALK TO THE CHINESE ABOUT
COULD MAKE THE FOLLOWING POINTS:
A) THE CHINESE HAVE MADE IT PLAIN THAT THEY DO NOT INTEND TO TAKE THE INITIATIVE IN PUTTING FORWARD PROPOSALS. BUT THERE IS A TACTICAL ADVANTAGE IN CONTINUING TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO DO THIS. REFUSING PUTS THEM IN A WEAK POSITION: AND ANY PROPOSALS THAT THEY PUT FORWARD' ARE UNLIKELY TO BE WELL RECEIVED IN HONG KONG.
B) WE HAVE TWO OTHER REASONS FOR PURSUING A DISCUSSION WITH
THEM:
(I) TO BE SEEN IN HONG KONG TO BE MAKING EVERY EFFORT TO CONSULT WITH THEM. NOT TO DO SO WOULD LEAD TO AN EROSION OF
LOCAL SUPPORT FOR MY PROPOSALS:
(II) TO TRY TO DRAW THEM OUT ON WHAT POINTS IN MY PROPOSALS THEY CONSIDER TO BE CONTRARY TO THE BASIC LAW, AND TO TRY TO FORCE THEM TO TELL US WHAT THEY THINK WAS AGREED IN 1990. IF THIS WERE TO LEAD THEM TO DENY THAT THEY WERE CONSIDERING AN ELECTION COMMITTEE OF 100/200 PEOPLE WITH 50 PERCENT NOMINATED BY BRITAIN AND 50 PERCENT NOMINATED BY CHINA, THAT WOULD IN ITSELF
1
PAGE CONFIDENTIAL
Redacted under FOI exemptions 27(1), 40(2) and 41.