101152Z
REFERRED TO MR RICKETTS FOR DIST ADVICE -NONE SUGGESTED LNMDAN 9662 HMLNAN 4017
SECRE
DD 10120OZ FCOLN
FM HOKON TO FCOLN
101112Z JUM
GRS 410
SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 1012OOZ FCO
TELNO 950
OF 101112Z JUNE 93
IMMEDIATE MODUK
INFO
INFO PRIORITY
HKA 063/1
Roken
14 JUN 1993
Action
SIC
PEKING
FOR RICKETTS, HKD FROM PS/GH
WITHDRAWAL OF THE GARRISON
1 Mr Brake
1.
(92
Copy tubed to Mr Howard 110%
Pa tube copies to Mr Howard / Bowe, support a moty.
THE GOVERNOR IS HOLDING A MEETING ON 16 JUNE WITH THE CBF, UKREP JLG AND OTHERS TO DISCUSS HOW AND WHEN WE SHOULD (I) INFORM THE CHINESE OF OUR TIMETABLE FOR WITHDRAWING THE GARRISON AND (II) PRESENT THIS DECISION PUBLICLY. HOWEVER, THERE IS ONE POINT WHICH NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED BEFORE THEN, RELATING TO THE TIMING FOR DISTRIBUTING THE OPD (K) PAPER.
2. FOR POLITICAL AND PRESENTATIONAL REASONS HERE, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE SHOULD SEEK EXCO'S VIEWS BEFORE WE ANNOUNCE A DECISION ON THE GARRISON. THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY WE WILL HAVE TO DO THIS WILL BE ON 22 JUNE (THERE IS NO EXCO MEETING ON 15 JULY).
3. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE DEFENCE SECRETARY HAS ALREADY CLEARED THE OPD (K) PAPER AND THAT THE FOREIGN SECRETARY IS DUE TO CONSIDER IT THIS WEEKEND. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF, THEREAFTER, DISTRIBUTION OF THE PAPER TO THE FULL OPD (K) IS PUT BRIEFLY ON HOLD UNTIL WE HAVE HAD THE EXCO MEETING ON 22 JUNE. WE WILL AIM TO SEND YOU A TELEGRAM THAT DAY WITH ANY VIEWS THAT EXCO MAY HAVE, ENABLING YOU TO CIRCULATE THE OPD (K) PAPER ON 23 JUNE.
4. WE WELL APPRECIATE MOD'S WISH TO MOVE AHEAD QUICKLY WITH THIS EXERCISE. WE SHARE THAT WISH BUT BELIEVE THAT, IF IT IS TO GO SMOOTHLY, WE MUST ENSURE THAT WE HAVE OUR SUPPORT PROPS IN PLACE. THOSE INCLUDE EXCO. SO WE HOPE THAT YOU AND THE MOD WILL BE ABLE TO ACCEPT THIS REVISED TIMETABLE.
5. IF, AS SEEMS POSSIBLE THE OPD (K) PAPER IS CONSIDERED WITHOUT THE NEED TO CONVENE A MEETING, A DECISION COULD WELL BE AVAILABLE BY THE WEEK BEGINNING 28 JUNE. WE WOULD THEN NEED TO INFORM THE CHINESE SIDE OF OUR PLANS, THROUGH THE JLG. THERE ARE DIFFERING VIEWS HERE AT PRESENT ON HOW LONG WE SHOULD SET ASIDE FOR THIS PROCESS, WITH ESTIMATES VARYING FROM THREE DAYS TO SOME THREE WEEKS. WE WILL SEEK TO FORM A CONSENSUS VIEW ON THIS AT OUR MEETING ON 16 JUNE AND WILL LET YOU KNOW THIS BY TELEGRAM. IN THE MEANTIME IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE YOUR OWN VIEWS ON THE QUESTION OF HANDLING THE CHINESE SIDE.
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6. FINALLY IT IS CLEARLY IMPORTANT WE DO ALL WE CAN TO AVOID ANY LEAKING OF INFORMATION ON THIS ISSUE BEFORE A DECISION HAS BEEN TAKEN BY MINISTERS AND THE CHINESE HAVE BEEN INFORMED. AT THIS END, WE WILL ENSURE THAT EXCO MEMBERS ARE ASKED TO COME IN TO READ THE PAPERS IN THE EXCO CHAMBER AND THAT THEY ARE MADE
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