TNAG-1263-FCO40-1606-Parliamentary-contacts-on-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 153

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Por falling each $2915

Mr Sloane, WED (W63)

Reference

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FEC 441/1

cc: Mr Wetherell, Defence I

Mr Barrass, TRED Mr Morris, KD Planning Staff

WEU ASSEMBLY RECOMMENDATION 393: CHINA AND EUROPEAN SECURITY

1.

Your minute of 26 September. This was the first time we had seen the final version of the Assembly recommendation; the

'minor amendment' you mentioned in your minute of 10 June seems to have been the addition of an explicit call for the lifting of 'COCOM restrictions on trade with the eastern countries'. This call is by no means helpful to our interests. The fact that it was made suggests that our work last May in preparing a guidance note for the British delegation was largely a waste of time.

2. The draft Council reply is unacceptable on the COCOM point and could be greatly improved on others. We would like to suggest the following self-explanatory amendments, which we have cleared, as appropriate with TRED, Defence Dept and HKD:

a.

b.

MKK040/16

RECEIVEQ IN HEGISTRY

29 SEP 1983

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

CODE 18 77

C.

d.

e.

at beginning of first inset paragraph insert:

'The member states of WEU individually maintain a

wide range of political contacts with the Government of the People's Republic of China through exchanges of visits and other channels. These contacts provide good opportunities for consultations on international questions, and on many of these we share similar views. Moreover

•

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second inset paragraph: no change.

third inset paragraph: amend to read:

'The member states of WEU do not consider that either

individual national policies or COCOM regulations currently present a major obstacle to the development of trade and co-operation with China. They believe however that the application of COCOM regulations to trade with China should be reviewed from time to time. Member states will continue to maintain close contact with the United States and other OECD partners on this matter.'

fourth inset paragraph: amend to read:

'The member states of the WEU are opposed to the conclu- sion of any agreement on the deployment of INF missiles based on the transfer to Soviet Asia of some or all of the SS20's currently installed in the Western USSR.'

fifth inset paragraph: no change.

f sixth inset paragraph: if possible amend to read:

The United Kingdom's partners share complete confi- dence in the United Kingdom in its search for a

egotiated solution for Hong Kong which will maintain Hong Kong's stability and prosperity' (This reflects the wording of the joint UK/China statement of September 1982).

REGISTRY

Action Taken

CMsala

28 September 1983

N J Cox

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Far Eastern Department W82

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