TNAG-1314-FCO40-1696-Working-papers-for-use-at-talks-on-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 129

GPS 175

SECRET

SECRET

And my

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4

FM HONG KONG 140202Z DEC 83

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 1936 OF 14 DECEMBER 1983

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

NKKme/19

(218)

FUTURE OF HONG KONG: YOUR TELNO 1298 AND PEKING TELNO 1236:

WORKING PAPER ON TREATIES

1. I CONTINUE TO SEE DANGER IN PROPOSING A JOINT OMMISSION TO THE CHINESE BEFORE WE KNOW WHAT IT WILL CONSIDER. SINCE WE CANNOT

IN ANY CASE COMPLETE THE PRESENTATION OF ALL WORKING PAPERS FOR

SOME TIME TO COME (PARA 2 OF MY TELNO 1911) IT WILL CAUSE NO

PROBLEM TO LEAVE IT ASIDE.

2. I AM IN ANY CASE NOT CONVINCED THAT A JOINT COMMISSION, IS THE

RIGHT ANSWER. I DO NOT SEE HOW ONE COMMISSION CAN DEAL WITH SUCH

DISPARATE QUESTIONS AS EXTRADITION, CIVIL AVIATION, TRADE MARKS,

ETC. WE WILL NEED TO DEAL WITH MANY OF THESE ISSUES SEPARATELY

ON THEIR OWN MERITS (MY TELNO 1675). IT COULD BE THAT THERE WILL

BE ARRANGEMENTS WHICH WE WILL WISH TO AMEND BEFORE 1997 WITHOUT

INVOLVING THE CHINEUE.

up

See (220)

4. THE XEY POINT IS THAT WE SHOULD NOT TAKE A LEAP INTO THE DARK

AND PROPOSE A COMMISSION WHICH MAY PROVE TO BE THE WRONG APPROACH.

NEVERTHELESS, I STILL THINK WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO PRESS ON WITH AN

EXAMINATION OF THE TREATIES ON THE BASIS PROPOSED IN MYTEL 1861.

IF YOU ARE READY TO ALLOCATE RESOURCES TO PUT THIS WORK IN HAND,

WE WILL CONSIDER WHAT ASSISTANCE WE CAN MAKE AVAILABLE.

Q39

YOUDE

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

LIMITED

ED/FRO

CHELS/CHE

ED/PLANNING STAFF ED/FUSD

D/HD/PUSD(MR FLOWER)

RESEARCH DEPT(KR WALKER)

LEGAL ADVISER(SIR IAN SINCLAIR)

PS

PS/LADY YOUNG

COPIES TO: (VLA DISTR. ROOM)

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

PS/HOME SECRETARY

PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL

PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND

INDUSTRY

COPIES TO:

(VIA ADR)

MR ROBERTS

NEWS DEPT

LEGAL ADVISERS

PS/R LUCE

PS/PUS

SIR J BULLARD

MR GIFFARD

ME BURROWS

MR COLES NO 10 DOWNING ST

SIR A PARSONS

MR MARTIN ASSESSMENT STAFF

CABINET OFFICE

MR DONALD

MR WRIGHT

SIR C TICKELL

SECRET

MR GOODALL

CABINET OFFICE

MRBRENWAN .*

PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL

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