TNAG-1255-FCO40-1588-Third-countries-and-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 38

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CHOGM 23-29 NOVEMBER:

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1. Further to Mr Goldsmith's circular minute of 5 August, the Prime Minister replied on 23 September (Annex A) to the Commonwealth Secretary General's letter of 2 August. We have now received the attached letter (Annex B) from Mr Ramphal enclosing the annotated agenda for CHOGM. From this we have prepared a draft list of briefs (Annex C) for the 1983 CHOGM. It will be submitted for Cabinet Office approval at noon on Friday, 7 October. I should be grateful for any comments, particularly suggestions for additions or deletions, by telephone to me (233 4493) or Mr T N Byrne (233 4558) (nil returns required) as soon as possible but by 5 p.m. on Thursday, 6 October, at the latest.

2.

The annotated agenda and the suggested list of briefs require some explanation. The first is on the lines expected. Mr Ramphal's covering letter (i.e. the annotation) and his earlier letter of 2 August (circulated with my minute of 5 August) need to be read together to put flesh on the bones of the draft agenda and thereby clarify briefing requirements. In our view, briefs will be required in 4 main categories or series, as indicated at Annex C:

A

B

C

D

3.

Prepared (UK) Ministerial Statements;

Ministerial briefs for use in formal sessions of CHOGM;

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Ministerial briefs on subjects likely to be raised MKK0405 bilaterally in the margins; and

JVED IN PEGISTRY

Background briefs (for issue in the first nstance to officials only).

UCI 1983

OFFICER

Category A is at this stage entirely tentative The Prime Minister should have available a prepared statement on these particular agenda items. We have hot yet heard from the Commonwealth Secretariat whether they intend to ask the Prime Minister to introduce any particular item. If they do, and if she agrees, the list will need to be extended or more substantial statements than would otherwise have been required will be necessary on subjects already listed.

4. Category B is overlong; whilst we would not wish to deter you from proposing any essential changes we look to you for positive suggestions for the amalgamation, or better still the omission, of certain briefs.

5. Category C includes bilateral country briefs and general briefs relevant to more than one country. Ideas for amalgamation/omission are again welcome, but please remember that this meeting will last a week and will include a ''retreat'' weekend at Goa. The opportunities for bilaterals, whether sought or unsought, will be many.

ALGISTH

PA

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CONFIDENTIAL

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