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GR 495
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HACK OTO
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FM HONG KONG 030939Z MAY 79
TO FRIORITY FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELNO.518 OF 3 MAY,
INFO PRIORITY PEKING.
see
M.I.P.T: NEW TERRITORIES LEASES: TACTICS.
ICS.
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1. I AGREE WITH THE AMBASSADOR (PARA.6 OF HIS LETTER TO MCLAREN OF 23 APRIL) THAT WE SHOULD NOW PLAN ON A TWO STAGE OPERATION:
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(1) TELL THE CHINESE WHAT WE PROPOSE TO DO AND WHEN: (11) ANNOUNCE NEW LEGISLATION TO DEAL WITH LAND LEASES.
I THINK WE SHOULD ALLOW A THREE-MONTH GAP BETWEEN (1) AND (11) TO GIVE TIME FOR THE CHINESE TO OBJECT IF THEY ARE GOING TO AND FOR US TO ALLAY THEIR OBJECTIONS OR WITHDRAW IF WE HAVE TO.
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2. IF YOU AGREE THAT THE ISSUE SHOULD NOT BE MAGNIFIED BY ANNOUNCEMENT IN THE U.K, THE BEST TIME FOR (11) WOULD BE DURING 1 COULD MY ANNUAL SPEECH TO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON 10 OCTOBER. INCLUDE ACTION ON LAND LEASES IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMME FOR
TIME THAT THE SESSION AND (IF APPROPRIATE) INDICATE AT THE SAME AN ORDER-IN-COUNCIL IS BEING OR SHORTLY WILL BE MADE IN THE U.K. LAND LEASES WOULD THEN BE ONE ITEM IN A LIST OF OTHER PLANNED LEGISLATION. OBVIOUSLY WHAT WE PROPOSE IS BOUND TO ATTRACT CONSIDERABLE ATTENTION AND SPECULATION, BUT THIS WILL BE LESS INTENSE IF IT COMES AS PART OF A GENERAL PROGRAMME RATHER THAN IN ISOLATION. NO SIMILAR OPPORTUNITY WILL OCCUR BEFORE I LEAVE. THIS POINTS TO ACTION UNDER (1) IN LATE JUNE OR EARLY JULY.
3. I ASSUME MINISTERIAL AUTHORITY WILL BE NEEDED BEFORE PROCEEDING
WITH (1) AND CERTAINLY BEFORE (11). SO FAR AS (1) IS CONCERNED, I AGREE WITH CRADOCK THAT THE CHINESE MAY NOT VOLUNTEER CLEAR-CUT APRROVAL AND THAT IT MIGHT BE IMPRUDENT TO PRESS THEM FOR IT. WE MAY HAVE TO SET OURSELVES A DATE BY WHICH LACK OF RESPONSE IS TAKEN AS INDICATING ABSENCE OF CHINESE OBJECTION. AN ADDITIONAL ADVANTAGE OF USING THE 10 OCTOBER SPEECH TO ANNOUNCE OUR INTENTIONS
IS THAT IT WOULD GIVE THE CHINESE A COMPREHENSIBLE DEADLINE BY WHICH THEY WILL HAVE TO HAVE OBJECTED IF THEY WISH TO DO SO.
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