C
CONFIDENTIAL
0901 HKO
38
040744
MDHIAN 8744
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 943
OF 302133Z MARCH 92
HKC
03119 ok
아
Mr Moja
TOP COMY GRIST?
ст
AND TO IMMEDIATE UKDEL IMF/IBRD WASHINGTON, UKREP JLG HONG KONG INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
(24
1997 IMF BRD ANNUAL MEETINGS: UKDEL IMF/IBRD WASHINGTON'S TELNO 10'8
1 WE APPRECIATE UKDEL IMF/IBRD'S ADVICE ABOUT THE PROSPECTS OF MAKING PROGRESS WITH THE CHINESE ON THE BERLIN MODEL AS A PRECEDENT FOR THE 1997 MEETINGS. BUT WE WOULD BE MOST GRATEFUL IF HE COULD NEVERTHELESS TAKE A SUITABLE OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE THE MATTER AGAIN WITH HIS INTERLOCUTOR (SEE PARA 4 BELOW). WE BELIEVE THAT THIS REMAINS THE MOST EFFECTIVE CHANNEL OF COMMUNICATION ON MATTERS OF DETAIL OF THIS KIND.
2. ON PARA 2 OF TUR, THE BERLIN PRECEDENT IS INDEED VERY IMPORTANT TO HONG KONG BECAUSE WE WISH TO BE ASSURED THAT OUR HOSTING OF THE MEETINGS WOULD GIVE PROPER RECOGNITION TO HONG KONG AS THE HOST CITY AND UNDERLINE THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION'S FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC AUTONOMY. IT IS THEREFORE NECESSARY TO ASCERTAIN THE CHINESE ATTITUDE ON THE USE OF THE BERLIN MODEL, OR A VARIATION OF IT, AS THE BASIS FOR THE ARRANGEMENT FOR THE 1997 MEETINGS. THIS IS A NECESSARY CONSIDERATION IN LIGHT OF THE VERY SUBSTANTIAL FINANCIAL AND MANPOWER RESOURCES THAT HONG KONG WOULD HAVE TO DEVOTE TO THE MEETINGS. THIS SHOULD THEREFORE NOT BE INTERPRETED AS SIGNS OF US GETTING COLD FEET. THE FACT THAT CHINA'S FORMAL RESPONSE HAS NOT ADDRESSED THE BERLIN PRECEDENT MAKES IT ALL THE MORE IMPORTANT FOR US TO SEEK CLARIFICATION ON THEIR STANCE BEFORE HONG KONG MAKES A FORMAL COMMITMENT TO HOST THE MEETINGS.
3. WE HAVE ALSO CAREFULLY CONSIDERED UKDEL IMF/IBRD'S SUGGESTION OF A TRIPARTITE WORKING LEVEL MEETING (PRESUMABLY IN HONG KONG) OR THE USE OF THE JLG MACHINERY TO HOLD SUCH DISCUSSIONS. HOWEVER WE SEE PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES OVER THIS. SUCH A MEETING WOULD TAKE TIME TO SET UP, AND WOULD ALMOST CERTAINLY NOT BE READY BEFORE THE END OF APRIL. IT WOULD IN ANY CASE ARGUABLY BE USING A RATHER LARGE SLEDGEHAMMER TO CRACK WHAT WE HOPE IS A SMALL NUT. MOREOVER, AS FAR AS WE ARE AWARE, THERE IS NO ONE ON THE CHINESE
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