GRS 450
CONFIDENTIAL
FUTURE EGRET
DESKBY 0409OOZ
CONFIDENTIAL
гQP
4
COPY HKK 040/59
RECEIVED IN REGISTR :
5 DEC 1984
DESK OFFICER
FM HONG KONG 04051OZ DEC 84
TO IMMEDIATE F C O
TELEGRAM NUMBER 3689 OF 4 DECEMBER
INDEX
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING (PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR)
PERSONAL FOR GALSWORTHY, HKD FROM POLITICAL ADVISER
PEKING TELNO 2875: FUTURE EGRET: LAND COMMISSION.
DISTH'
PA
Action Taken
SAP
1. THE AMBASSADOR RAISED THE COMPOSITION OF THE LAND COMMISSION IN PARA 4 OF TUR.
↑
2. SINCE THE LAND COMMISSION IS TO DE ESTABLISHED IN HONG KONG'' AND WILL BE DEALING WITH A SUBJECT OF GREAT TECHNICAL COMPLEXITY ON WHICH THE EXPERTISE LIES SOLELY IN HONG KONG, THE BRITISH MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION WILL CLEARLY HAVE TO BE DRAWN FROM AMONG THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICERS CONCERNED.
3. PARA 7 OF ANNEX 111 STATES ONLY THAT THE COMMISSION IS TO BE COMPOSED OF AN EQUAL NUMBER OF OFFICIALS' DESIGNATED BY THE TWO GOVERNMENTS (TOGETHER WITH NECESSARY SUPPORTING STAFF). WE THINK ABOUT FIVE WOULD BE APPROPRIATE, THOUGH THERE WOULD BE ADVANTAGE IN HAVING SOME FLEXIBILITYA. THERE HAS SO FAR BEEN NO INDICATION OF HOW MANY THE CHINESE HAVE IN MIND. WE DO NOT ENVISAGE THAT OUR MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION WOULD BE FULL TIME, BUT THERE MIGHT BE A CASE FOR ONE OR MORE FULL TIME SUPPORTING STAFF.
4. THE LEVEL OF OUR MEMBERSHIP WOULD DEPEND TO SOME EXTENT ON CHINESE INTENTIONS IN THIS REGARD. ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE CHINESE MEMBERSHIP IS PITCHED AT A SUFFICIENTLY SENIOR LEVEL, POSSIBLE MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM MIGHT BE:
SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS
DIRECTOR OF LANDS
REGISTRAR GENERAL
DEPUTY POLITICAL ADVISER
DEPUTY SECRETARY, GENERAL DUTIES
THE CHINESE WILL HAVE TO ACCEPT, AS WITH THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP, THAT HONG KONG CHINESE OFFICIALS WILL BE MEMBERS OF THE BRITISH SIDE WHERE THEY ARE THE EXPERTS. THERE WILL HAVE TO BE SOME PROVISION
FOR ALTERNATE MEMBERS TO COPE WITH LEAVE AND OTHER ABSENCES AND TO PROVIDE FLEXIBILITY. SINCE HE IS A DIPLOMATIC SERVICE OFFICER THE CHINESE COULD, IF THEY WISHED, REGARD THE DEPUTY POLITICAL ADVISER
AS AN FCO REPRESENTATIVE.
CONFIDENTIAL
15.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.