100942Z
REFERRED TO MR RICKETTS FOR DIST ADVICE: NONE SUGGESTED
SECRE572
LNMDAN S572
PEHPAN 8478
HKA 063/1.
1-JUN 1993
dion Taken:
PP FCOLN
FM PEKIN TO FCOLN
100845Z JUM
GRS 214
SECRET
FM PEKING
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 796
OF 100845Z JUNE 93
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG.
PERSONAL FOR RICKETTS, HKD
HONG KONG PERSONAL FOR POLITICAL ADVISER
WITHDRAWAL OF THE GARRISON: BRIEFING THE CHINESE
1.
WE WERE GRATEFUL FOR SIGHT OF THE PAPER COPIED UNDER BUNTEN'S (HKD) FAXED LETTER OF 9 JUNE TO COX.
90'
2. WE AGREE THAT THE CHINESE SHOULD BE BRIEFED ON MINISTERS' DECISIONS AS SOON AFTER THEY HAVE TAKEN THEM AS POSSIBLE. (PRESUMABLY THIS WILL BE DONE BY UKREP JLG SINCE THE SUBJECT WAS DISCUSSED PREVIOUSLY IN THE JLG FORUM). THE BRIEFING WILL NEED TO MAKE IT CLEAR, WITHOUT LABOURING THE POINT, THAT
-
J
THE CHINESE ARE BEING INFORMED, NOT CONSULTED. HOWEVER IT WILL BE IMPORTANT TO ALLOW THE CHINESE A LITTLE TIME TO ABSORB THE BRIEFING
AND TO REVERT WITH ANY COMMENTS OR REQUESTS FOR CLARIFICATION BEFORE THE DECISIONS ARE ANNOUNCED OR LEAKED. THIS IS A LESSON WE HAVE LEARNT IN DEALING WITH THE CHINESE IN OTHER AREAS, AND IT IS PARTICULARLY RELEVANT IN THE SENSITIVE AREA OF DEFENCE, WHERE WE HAVE RECENT EXPERIENCE OF THE CHINESE REACTING IN A PARANOIAC WAY TO BRITISH MOVES.
3. I HOPE WE WILL BE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON THE LINE TO BE TAKEN WITH THE CHINESE. IN A MATTER OF THIS KIND IT WOULD BE AS WELL TO HAND OVER A COPY OF THE SPEAKING NOTE.
MCLAREN
YYYY
PEHPAN 8478
93