SECRET
SECRET
704
165224
MDHIAN 5278
FM PEKING
TO DESKBY 171015Z HONG KONG
TELNO 28
OF 170955Z JUNE 93
INFO IMMEDIATE FCO, MODUK, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
SIC
PERSONAL FOR PS/GH
FCO PERSONAL FOR MORRIS, HKD
MODUK PERSONAL FOR SEC(O)C
105)
YOUR TELNO 972 TO FCO: WITHDRAWAL OF THE GARRISON
1.
·
TOP COPY Q DIST?
per
I AM CONTENT WITH THE PROPOSALS IN TUR IN PARTICULAR I AGREE WITH THE THEMES SUGGESTED FOR THE APPROACH TO THE CHINESE AND WITH
THE GOVERNOR'S VIEW THAT A FULL THREE WEEKS SHOULD ELAPSE BETWEEN
INFORMING THE CHINESE AND A PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT.
2.
·
I ALSO AGREE THAT IT WOULD BE TIMELY TO PROPOSE THE OPENING OF
DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN BRITISH AND CHINESE MILITARY AUTHORITIES ABOUT THE TRANSFER OF DEFENCE RESPONSIBILITIES, AND THAT IT WOULD BE RIGHT FOR ACTION ON THIS TO BE TAKEN IN LONDON AS WELL AS BY UKREP JLG IN HONG KONG. PRESUMABLY MR GOODLAD WOULD COVER THE WITHDRAWAL PLAN AS WELL AS THE PROPOSAL FOR MILITARY CONTACTS IN SPEAKING TO
THE CHINESE EMBASSY THIS WOULD SERVE TO EMPHASISE THAT DECISIONS
ABOUT THE DISPOSITION OF BRITISH FORCES ARE FOR BRITISH MINISTERS
ALONE AND NOT MATTERS FOR BILATERAL CONSULTATION.
3
·
IT WOULD BE USEFUL TO HAVE COPIES OF WHATEVER BRIEFING MATERIAL
IS PREPARED FOR USE WITH THE CHINESE IN CASE THEY RAISE THE SUBJECT HERE, AND OF ANY PRESS LINE.
MCLAREN
YYYY
f
T
R:
HKA 063/1
2 1 JUN 1993
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