TNAG-1314-FCO40-1696-Working-papers-for-use-at-talks-on-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 128

SECRET

8096 - 1

YOUR TELNO 1861 WOULD TAKE MANY

MONTHS EVEN IF SUBSTANTIAL

RESOURCES COULD BE DEVOTED TO IT IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE.

IT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO SCRUTINISE THE TEXTS OF EACH OF SOME 480 TREATIES, TO CONSULT WITHIN THE OFFICE ON THE SUBSTANTIVE AND

POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS AND ON THE LIKELY ATTITUDE OF ANY OTHER PARTIES AND IN SOME CASES TO SCRUTINISE HONG KONG LEGISLATION AND TO

CONSULT PEKING. EVEN ASSUMING THAT MANPOWER COULD QUICKLY BE FOUND FROM OUR SLENDER RESOURCES TO BE DIRECTLY ASSIGNED TO THE

JOB, THERE WOULD BE VERY CONSIDERABLE CALLS ON THIS OFFICE AND ON

YOUR OWN ADMINISTRATION. IT IS RELEVANT THAT A HONG KONG

GOVERNMENT LAWYER IS PLANNING TO SPEND TWO WEEKS IN LONDON SIMPLY LISTING THE TITLES OF ONE PART OF THE TOTAL BODY OF TREATIES

APPLICABLE TO HONG HONG.

5.

TO OUR MINDS THE INEVITABLE CONSEQUENCE WOULD BE A

CONSIDERABLE DELAY IN THE PREPARATION OF A WORKING PAPER ON TREATIES WELL BEYOND THE SUBMISSION TO THE CHINESE OF ALL OTHER WORKING PAPERS. EVEN GIVEN OUR BEST EFFORTS IT MUST BE DOUBTED WHETHER ANY MEANINGFUL RESULT COULD BE REACHED BEFORE WE AIMED TO

REACH AGREEMENT ON OTHER POINTS. EVEN IF NEGOTIATIONS EXTENDED BEYOND SEPTEMBER 1984. EVEN THAT RESULT WOULD NOT BE

ENTIRELY RELEVANT TO THE SIUTUATION IMMEDIATELY BEFORE 1997, WHICH IS WHAT REALLY CONCERNS US IN THIS EXERCISE.

6. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL THEREFORE IF YOU WOULD REVIEW THE

POSITION AND LET US HAVE YOUR CONSIDERED COMMENTS. THE LEGAL

ADVISER AND WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO DISCUSS THE MATTER WITH YOU WHEN YOU ARE IN LONDON NEXT MONTH.

HOWE

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

SID

KO

ED/FED

ED/PLANNING STAFF

/PUSO

D/HD/PUSD(MR FLOWER)

RESEARCH DEPT(MR WALKER)

LEGAL ADVISER(SIR TAN SINCLAIR)

PS

PS/LADY YOUNG

PSAR LÜGE

PS/PUS

SIR J BULLARD

MR. GIFFARD

HR DONALD

MR WRIGHT

SIR C TICKELL

2

SECRET

COPIES TO: (VIA DISTR. ROOM)

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

PS/FORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCTIL

PS/HOME SECRETARY

PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXOSEQUER

PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL

PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND

INDUSTRY

COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)

MR. ROBERT'S NEWS DEPT

ME BURROWS LEGAL ADVISERS ME COLES NO 10 DOWNING ST SIR A PARSONS

MR MARTIN ASSESSMENT

ASSESSMENT STAFF

CABINET OFFICE

MR GOODALL CABINET OFFICE

MR BRENNAN

PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE

PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL

}