TNAG-0858-FCO40-1068-Proposed-UK-China-bilateral-shipping-agreement-1979 — Page 68

न

CONFIDENTIAL

PA HKK 175/2

RJ. 51

S 380

CONFIDENTIAL

DESKBY 121200Z

FM PEKING 123650Z APR 79

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 377 OF 12 APR

FOR RAMSAY, MAED FROM GEORGE

!

ло

frein

Lee

46/47

UK/CHINA SHIPPING

1.

2.

YOUR UNDATED TELELETTER SOUGHT ADVICE ON TACTICS.

WHAT WE ARE SEEKING BY WAY OF AN EXCHANGE OF LETTERS HAS LITTLE TO OFFER THE CHINESE. WE AGREE THAT THE SIGNATURE OF THE ECA AND THE REFERENCE THEREIN MENTIONED BY PRISTON TO THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS OFFER US AS GOOD A LEAD IN AS WE CAN DEVISE. BUT WE MUST EXPECT THE CHINESE. TO PLAY HARD TO GET. THE MORE SPECIFIC WORDING OBTAINED BY THE FRENCH IN THEIR AGREEMENT HAS NOT YET, SO FAR AS WE KNOW, RESULTED IN MATERIAL ADVANTAGE TO THEM. RICKMERS REMAINS THE ONLY EUROPEAN LINE REGULARLY CALLING AT CHINESE PORTS,

3. WE AGREE THAT THE MARITIME AGREEMENT WILL IN ANY CASE TAKE

LONGER TO NEGOTIATE. ON THE HONG KONG POINT THERE IS A PARALLEL

WITH THE AIR SERVICES AGREEMENT, AS SEEN FROM HERE IT WOULD BE

PREMATURE TO GET TOO COMMITTED TO FORMAL TALKS ON TECHNICAL ISSUES UNTIL WE HAVE SOME INKLING OF HOW THE HONG KONG PROBLEM CAN BE GOT ROUND. IN PRESENT COMMUNICATIONS DIFFICULTIES WE ARE NOT SURE WHETHER YOU HAVE RESPONDED TO PARAGRAPH 6 OF HONG KONG TELNO 406

4. BY AN OVERSIGHT WE HAVE NOT TAKEN FOLLOW UP ACTION ON YOUR TELELETTER OF 15 MARCH. WE SHALL DO SO NEXT WEEK, PROBABLY WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION IN THE FIRST INSTANCE. IN VIEW OF THE CONSIDERATIONS MENTIONED ABOVE, WE SHALL CONCENTRATE ON THE EXCHANGE OF LETTERS, AND LEAVE IT TO THE CHINESE TO MENTION THE RESUMPTION OF NEGOTIATIONS ON THE MARITIME AGREEMENT. IF, AS IS LIKELY FROM THE LAST EXCHANGES, THEY DO SO WE WOULD SAY THAT WE WOULD BE READY TO RESUME DISCUSSIONS, BUT ENQUIRE WHETHER THEY HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ON THE HONG KONG ISSUE... SINCE THIS MATTER DID NOT COME UP DURING THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT, WE CAN USE THESE CALLS AND BROWNING'S VISIT FOR FURTHER RECONNAISANCE.

CONFIDENTIAL

15.