GPS 700
CONFIDENTIAL
DESKBY 12113OZ
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 12103OZ NOV 84
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 3451 OF 12 NOVEMBER
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
HKK 040/57
RECEIVER
REGISTRY
12 NOV 1984
TOP COPY
PEKING TELSNOS 2736 AND 2738: HONG KONG AGREEMENT:
SIGNATURE CEREMONY.
INDEA
PA
ہے
1. IT MAY BE DIFFICULT TO RESIST THE CHINESE INTENTION TO
INVITE ''IMPORTANT HONG KONG FIGURES'' TO BE PRESENT AT THE
SIGNATURE CEREMONY (PARA 8 OF FIRST TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE).
IF WE WERE TO DO SO THE CHINESE COULD LEAK THE FACT, AND WE
WOULD HAVE NO CONVINCING EXPLANATION TO OFFER.
2. THEREFORE BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD CONCENTRATE OUR EFFORTS ON
ENSURING THAT, IF THERE ARE TO BE HONG KONG PEOPLE PRESENT AT
THE CEREMONY THEY ARE PROPERLY REPRESENTATIVE, AND NOT A
SELECTION MADE BY THE CHINESE FROM THEIR OWN SUPPORTERS AND OTHERS
JUDGED TO BE
PATRIOTIC'.
2. THE CHINESE WILL NO DOUBT INSIST ON INCLUDING HONG KONG
MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS AND THE CHINESE
PEOPLE'S POLITICAL CONSULTATIVE CONFERENCE. FEW OF THESE
HAVE MUCH STANDING IN KONG KONG, AND IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT FOR
THEM TO BE BALANCED BY UMELCO MEMBERS AND REPUTABLE FIGURES
FROM INDUSTRY, COMMERCE AND THE PROFESSIONS (WE KNOW THAT SIR
Y K PAO, WHO WAS IN PEKING AT THE TIME OF THE PRIME MINISTER'S
SEPTEMBER 1982 VISIT IS NOW LETTING IT BE KNOWN THAT HE EXPECTS
TO BE PRESENT).
3. IF SIR S Y CHUNG AND OTHER SENIOR UNOFFICIALS ARE TO ATTEND
IT WILL HOWEVER BE ESSENTIAL THAT THEY SHOULD BE GIVEN PRIDE
OF PLACE AND IDENTIFIED AS EXCO AND LEGCO MEMBERS. WITH THE
WORLD'S CAMERAS FOCUSSED ON THE CEREMONY IT WOULD BE QUITE
UNACCEPTABLE HERE FOR THEM TO BE SEEN TO OCCUPY A SUBORDINATE
POSITION COMPARED WITH LOCAL NPC AND CPPCC MEMBERS OR OTHER
HONG KONG FIGURES. IT WOULD THEREFORE HAVE TO BE MADE CLEAR
TO THE CHINESE FROM THE OUTSET THAT THIS WAS A SINE QUA NON AS
FAR AS THE BRITISH SIDE WAS CONCERNED.
4. AGAINST THAT BACKGROUND, I SUGGEST THAT THE AMBASSADOR MIGHT
MAKE THE FOLLOWING POINTS IN RESPONSE TO ZHOU NAN:
(A) WE AGREE THAT A GROUP OF HONG PEOPLE SHOULD BE
(A) WE AGREE THAT A GROUP OF HONG KONG PEOPLE SHOULD BE PRESENT AT
THE SIGNATURE CEREMONY AS OBSERVERS.
$5
(B) IT WILL BE IMPORTANT THAT THIS GROUP SHOULD BE PROPERLY
REPRESENTATIVE. SINCE THE CEREMONY WILL BE A SINO-BRITISH AFFAIR
WE WOULD EXPECT TO BE CONSULTED ON THE LIST OF THOSE TO BE
INVITED.
CONFIDENTIAL
110
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.