TNAG-1345-FCO40-1775-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Joint-Liaison-Group-1984 — Page 27

GR 370

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG 300845Z NOV 84

TO IMMEDIATE F C O

TELEGRAM NUMBER 3662 OF 30 NOVEMBER

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING (PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR)

PERSONAL FOR SIR P CRADOCK FROM GOVERNOR

FUTURE EGRET: JOINT LIAISON GROUP

3)

Thanks 85 ©

TOP COF ник 040/59

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

C 4 DEC 1984

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

REGISTRY

Action Taken

Mick Col

1. ONE QUESTION WHICH MAY BE RAISED BY UNOFFICIALS EITHER DURING NEXT WEEK'S VISIT TO LONDON OR WHEN THE PRIME MINISTER AND SECRETARY OF STATE ARE HERE, IS MEMBERSHIP OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP. I SHOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THIS WITH YOU NEXT WEEK BUT YOU MAY FIND IT HELPFUL TO KNOW OUR THINKING BEFOREHAND.

2. ANNEX 11 PROVIDES FOR EACH SIDE TO DESIGNATE A SENIOR REPRESENTATIVE OF AMBASSADORIAL RANK AND FOUR OTHER MEMBERS OF THE GROUP. AS SEEN FROM HERE, THE SENIOR REPRESENTATIVE WILL HAVE TO BE A LONDON-BASED FCO OFFICIAL, AT LEAST FOR THE FIRST THREE YEARS OF THE GROUP'S LIFE. THE OBVIOUS CANDIDATE IS THE ASSISTANT UNDER SECRETARY RESPONSIBLE FOR HONG KONG QUESTIONS.

3. IN CHOOSING THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE GROUP WE WILL NEED TO ACHIEVE A BALANCE BETWEEN REPRESENTATION FROM HONG KONG, LONDON AND THE EMBASSY IN PEKING THERE SHOULD BE AT LEAST TWO MEMBERS FROM HONG KONG WHO SHOULD PROBABLY BE THE SECRETARY (GENERAL DUTIES) AND THE POLITICAL ADVISER.

4. ANNEX 11 ALSO PROVIDES THAT MEETINGS OF THE JLG MAY BE ATTENDED BY EXPERTS OTHER THAN ITS MEMBERS, AND THAT EACH SIDE SHALL DETERMINE THE COMPOSITION OF ITS DELEGATION TO PARTICULAR MEETINGS. IT WILL HAVE TO BE ACCEPTED THAT THESE WILL BE HONG KONG CHINESE

OFFICERS WHEREVER THEY ARE THE EXPERTS ON THE SUBJECTS TO BE

DISCUSSED.

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5. UNOFFICIALS MAY PRESS FOR ARRANGEMENTS TO BE MADE FOR THONG KONG PEOPLE' TO TAKE PART IN THE WORK OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP, A POINT RAISED IN THEIR STATEMENT ISSUED ON 29 NOVEMBER. THEY MAY HAVE IT IN MIND THAT ONE OR MORE OF THEIR OWN NUMBER SHOULD BE APPOINTED. I SEE NO PROSPECT OF THIS BEING ACCEPTABLE TO THE CHINESE. THE BEST LINE FOR MINISTERS TO TAKE MIGHT THEREFORE BE THAT THE GROUP WILL BE COMPOSED OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE TWO GOVERNMENTS BUT THAT HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WILL TAKE PART IN ITS WORK AS APPROPRIATE (I HAVE, OF COURSE, ALREADY MADE THIS CLEAR IN MY PRESS CONFERENCE ON 27 SEPTEMBER),

YOUDE LIMITED HDI HKD

COPIES TO STR.P.CRADOCK

CONFIDENCIAL