TNAG-0858-FCO40-1068-Proposed-UK-China-bilateral-shipping-agreement-1979 — Page 65

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GR 200

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

F1 FCO 181048Z APR 79

TO IMATE PEKING

TELEGRAM NUMBER 226 OF 19 APRIL

IIIFO SAVING HONG KONG

SHIPPING: YOUR TEL 377

Her 175/2

NO

2 3 APR 1979

OFICER

PA

J23.4

PA

WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THIS ADVICE. WE AGREE THAT OUR INITIAL OBJECTIVE MUST BE TO GET THE EXCHANGE OF LETTERS UNDER THE E CA.

•BUT WE ARE UNHAPPY AT THE SUGGESTION THAT WE SHOULD LEAVE IT TO THE CHINESE TO MENTION THE RESUMPTION OF NEGOTIATIONS ON THE MARITIME AGREEMENT. PRISTON TOLD THE CHINESE THAT THE UK WAS READY TO RESUME NEGOTIATIONS ON THE MARITIME AGREEMENT AND THAT THE EMBASSY WOULD CONTACT THEM SHORTLY TO DISCUSS HOW TO PROCEED (YOUR TEL 277 OF 5 FEBRUARY.) TWO MONTHS HAVE NOW ELAPSED AND REFERENCE TO THE QUESTION DURING YOUR CURRENT ROUND OF CALLS CONCERNING THE EXCHANGE CF LETTERS WILL SERVE TO SHOW THAT WE ARE STILL INTERESTED IN THE

MARITIME AGREEMENT AS WELL.

2. WE WOULD HOPE THAT THE OUTCOME OF THESE CALLS WOULD AT LEAST INDICATE SCOPE FOR FURTHER INFORMAL EXPLORATORY TALKS DESIGNED TO

PROBE THE CHINESE ON THEIR CURRENT ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE MARITIME

AGREEMENT. WE WOULD SEND YOU BRIEFING FOR THIS. WE SHOULD THEN

HAVE A CLEARER PICTURE OF HOW TO PROCEED WITH FORMAL DISCUSSIONS,

WHICH WE AGREE WOULD BE PREMATURE AT THIS STAGE.

3. WE CANNOT TAKE A FINAL VIEW ON PARA 6 OF HONG KONG TELNO

308 UNTIL WE HAVE SOME IDEA OF WHAT THE CHINESE ATTITUDE IS LIKELY TO BE. WE HOPE YOUR EXPLORATORY TALKS WILL PROVIDE SOME POINTERS

ON THIS.

4. WE SHOULD BE INTERESTED TO HAVE YOUR REACTION TO THE G C B S SUGGESTION OF A VISIT BY A PARTY OF BRITISH SHIPOWNERS (PARA 4 OF RAMSAY'S UNDATED TELE-LETTER).

OWEN

FILKS MARD NK<QD

FED

MR BUTILR

NA CORTAZU HIS GROWN

· KL HULGAY

Comes To ;

MA MORUS 5.9., Doy NR BROWN 30

DOT

HE PUISTON CREE,,BOT

CONFIDENTIAL