CONFIDENTIAL
It would be appropriate for the Group to be led by a London based
official. There will need to be strong Hong Kong representation.
To ensure that the Embassy in Peking is fully informed about work in
the Group, and hence able to conduct the necessary consultations
between rounds, an Embassy representative should be a member of
the Group. This suggests the following line up:
Delegation Leader: AUSS (Asia) FCO
Secretary (General Duties), Hong Kong Government
Political Adviser, Hong Kong
Head of Hong Kong Department, FCO
Counsellor, British Embassy, Peking
While the Group is working at a rhythm of three meetings or so a
year, it should be possible for the functions of Delegation Leader
to be combined with those of the AUSS (Asia) If and when more
frequent meetings become the norm it may be necessary for certain
other functions of the AUSS (Asia) to be reallocated.
21. Depending on the content of the meetings of the Group it may be
necessary to have other advisers present. Legal Advisers will have
a particular role to play. They can play a full part in the Group
as experts.
22. It is already clear that the participation of Hong Kong Chinese
in the work of the Group will be a difficult issue. The present
Chinese position, notwithstanding the provisions of Annex II that each side should determine the composition of its delegation, is
that BDTCs would not be acceptable as full members of the British
delegation. They would however be included in sub-groups. (The Chinese position on participation by Hong Kong Chinese as experts
advising the delegation to the main Group is not entirely clear, but
it seems likely that this would be permitted). The Line-up
suggested
in para 20 above would not in fact at present involve
participation of a Hong Kong Chinese as a a full member of the British
delegation: but in future the Secretary (General Duties) could well
be Chinese.
23. After 1 July 1988, when the Group will have its principal base
CONFIDENTIAL
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.