RESTRICTED
HKD 345/1
RECEIVE
IN DEC
RESTRICTED
FM BUENOS AIRES
TO DESKBY 17143OZ FCO
TELNO 34
OF 1712OOZ JANUARY 92
чк
AND TO DESKBY 17143OZ HONG KONG
16
011057 MDHIAN 9618
Treak as top carry
Us
14
13
HONG KONG TELNOS 125 AND 133: VISA WAIVER: ARGENTINA/HONG KONG
1.
WE PUT POINTS IN FIRST TUR TO ARGENTINES ON 16 JANUARY.
2.
ANSWERS, SERIATIM, WERE:-
"1
A.
B.
C/D.
AGREED (AS IN TEXT IN BUENOS AIRES TELNO 32).
PHRASE DELETED.
ARGENTINES TRIED TO REOPEN, ARGUING FOR 60 DAYS TERMINATION. WE SAID THAT WE COULD ONLY OFFER NO (NO) REFERENCE TO 1997 IN AGREEMENT OR SIDE NOTE COUPLED WITH 30 DAYS OR 90 DAYS PLUS SIDE NOTE FORMULA IN YOUR PARA 20. THEY SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO CONSULT, BUT EXPRESSED WORRIES ABOUT FOREIGN MINISTER'S FORTHCOMING VISIT TO CHINA (MY TELNO 29). WE POINTED OUT HE WAS ALSO LOOKING FOR INVESTMENT FROM HONG KONG.
3. AS REQUESTED WE ARE SENDING YOU BY FAX A DRAFT IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH OF CURRENT WORKING VERSION OF TEXT. WE HAVE ALSO DRAWN UP AN ANNEX DESCRIBING PASSPORTS IN FORCE IN HONG KONG (NOT YET PUT TO ARGENTINES). IT FOLLOWS FORMAT OF UK/ARGENTINA WAIVER AGREEMENT AND CONTAINS INFORMATION IN JOHN DEAR'S FAX OF 27 NOVEMBER. GRATEFUL FOR URGENT COMMENTS.
4.
DRAFT TEXT OF AGREEMENT AS ORIGINALLY SENT TO US REFERS THROUGHOUT TO QUOTE HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT OF BRITAIN UNQUOTE. IS THIS CORRECT OR SHOULD WE USE THROUGHOUT QUOTE OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND UNQUOTE?
COMMENT
5. I HOPE THAT THE ARGENTINES ARE NOT GETTING COLD FEET OVER HE 1997 REFERENCE. I HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH PETRELLA IN PUNTA DEL ESTE TO GET HIM TO BRING SOME PRESSURE TO BEAR. HE RETURNS TO THE MFA (BRIEFLY) ON MONDAY. I WILL RETURN TO THE
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