SECRET DEDIP
PROPOSALS WHERE WE BELIEVE WE MAY REACH COMMON GROUND. WE
SUCCEEDED IN GETTING THE CHINESE TO EXPAND THEIR THINKING ON
HONG KONG'S:
(A) LEGAL SYSTEM SEMI-COLON
(B) FINANCIAL SYSTEM SEMI-COLON
(C) EXTERNAL ECONOMIC RELATIONS.
6.
8095 1
THERE EMERGED COMMON GROUND IN SOME AREAS, ESPECIALLY ON
(B) AND (C). BUT ON OTHER POINTS, MUCH MORE WORK IS NEEDED.
SOME OF THE CHINESE IDEAS RUN COUNTER TO THEIR ASSERTION OF
OPEN QUOTES BASICALLY NO CHANGE CLOSE QUOTES. WE AGAIN
STRESSED THE NEED FOR THE MAXIMUM DEGREE OF CONTINUITY IN THE INTERESTS OF LONG TERM STABILITY AND PROSPERITY. WE ALSO SOUGHT
CLARIFICATION OF SPECIFIC POINTS EITHER RAISED OR NOT ADDRESSED. THE CHINESE UNDERTOOK TO STUDY OUR QUESTIONS AND TO COMMENT AT
THE JANUARY ROUND OR BEFOREHAND IN INFORMAL CONTACTS.
-
7. THE WAY NOW SEEMS OPEN FOR FURTHER SUBSTANTIVE DISCUSSION.
THE OUTCOME IS UNCLEAR AND WE STILL HAVE TO TEST HOW FAR WE CAN ALTER CHINESE VIEWS ON CONTENTIOUS POINTS THROUGH NEGOTIATION.
BUT WE BELIEVE WE HAVE FOUND A WAY TO ENABLE TALKS TO PROCEED IN
A REASONABLY CONSTRUCTIVE ATMOSPHERE. THE GOVERNOR AND
UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF HONG KONG WILL VISIT
LONDON IN MID-JANUARY FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF CONSULTATIONS WITH
MINISTERS.
HOWE
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
TAFR:MACAD
ED/EKO
ED/PLANNING STAFF
ED/FED
ED/PUSD
D/ED/PUSD (MR FLOWER)
RESEARCE DEPT(MR WALKER)
LEGAL ADVISER(SIR IAN SINCLAIR)
PS
PS/LADY YOUNG
PSAR LUCE
PS/PGS
STR J BULLARD
MR GEFFAFD
MR DONALD
7
MR #RIGHT
SIR C TICKELL
-2-
SECRET
COPIES TO: (VIA DISTR. ROOM)
BUCKINGHAM PALACE
PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL
PS/HOME SECRETARY
PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXEQUER
PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL
PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND
INDUSTRY
COPIES TO :
(VIA ADR)
MR ROBERTS
NEWS DEPT
ME BURROWS
SIF A PARSONS
LEGAL ADVISERS
ME COLES NO 10 DOWNING ST
ASSESSMENT STAFF
1
MR MARTIN
CABINET OFFICE
MR GOODALL CABINET OFFICE
ME
BRENWAN
PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL
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