SECRET

SECRET

FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 23130OZ FCO

TELNO 1021

OF 231122Z JUNE 93

INFO DESKBY 2313OOZ MODUK

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

TOP COPY Q DIST?

118

005073 MDHIAN 6308

SIC

MODUK FOR SEC(O)C

PERSONAL FOR MORRIS, HKD FROM PS/GH

( 112

110

OUR TELNO 1004 AND YOUR TELNO 591: WITHDRAWAL OF THE GARRISON

1.

THE DRAFT TEXT OF A SPEAKING NOTE WHICH UKREP JLG WOULD (SUBJECT TO OPD (K)'S AGREEMENT TO THE WITHDRAWAL PLAN) USE WITH THE

CHINESE SIDE ON 28 JUNE IS IN MIFT. THE SPEAKING NOTE HAS BEEN PREPARED IN CONSULTATION WITH UKREP JLG WHO IS CONTENT.

2. WE RECOGNISE MOD'S CONCERNS ABOUT DEPLOYING THE ARGUMENT ABOUT PRESSURES ON BRITISH FORCES ELSEWHERE, BUT WE THINK THAT THIS LARGELY APPLIES TO ARGUMENTS USED IN PUBLIC. WHAT WE SAY TO THE

CHINESE DOES NOT NEED TO BE IDENTICAL. IN ARGUING AGAINST ANY ASSERTION BY THE CHINESE THAT OUR DEPLOYMENTS HERE SHOULD BE AGREED WITH THEM, IT WILL BE A POWERFUL POINT THAT THE GLOBAL DEPLOYMENT OF BRITISH TROOPS IS NOT SOMETHING WE CAN MAKE SUBJECT TO AGREEMENT WITH THEM, AND THAT THERE ARE OTHER PRESSURES ON THE BRITISH MILITARY STRENGTH ARISING FROM THE PRESENT WORLD SITUATION. UKREP JLG'S STRONG ADVICE, WITH WHICH WE AGREE, IS THAT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO MAKE THIS POINT.

3. WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR VIEWS ON MIFT DESKBY 2509OOZ. WE WOULD ALSO BE GLAD OF A SIGHT OF THE DRAFT SPEAKING NOTE FOR MR GOODLAD. YOU WILL NO DOUBT LET US KNOW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE OPD (K)'S DECISION.

PATTEN

HKA 063/1

28 19933

YYYY

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