TNAG-1356-FCO40-1797-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 126

295

wheth

6336 - 1

SECRET

OCMIAN 6336

SECRET

DD 181030Z HOKON

FM FCOLON TO HONKON

151715Z NOV

GRS 470

HRR OU

ACEIVED IN REGISTRY 26 NOV 1985

SECRET

FM FCO

TO DESKBY 181030Z HONG KONG

TELNO 1803

OF 1517152 NOVEMBER 85

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

DESK OPPIER

ISTRY

ADEX

PA

Acton Taken

разв

6

YOUR TELNO 2510: JOINT LIAISON GROUP: REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT

IN HONG KONG

1.

I HAVE CONSIDERED THE MATTER FURTHER OVER THE WEEKEND, TAKING FULL ACCOUNT OF THE VIEWS PUT FORWARD BY EXCO. I HAVE CONCLUDED THAT THE RIGHT COURSE IS TO AGREE TO GIVE THE CHINESE A BRIEFING IN THE JLG ON CHANGES WHICH HAVE ALREADY TAKEN PLACE AS A RESULT OF THE WHITE PAPER. WE SHOULD MAINTAIN THE VIEW THAT WE SEE NO ISSUES AT PRESENT ARISING FOR 'CONSULTATION AND SOLUTION', WHILE AT THE SAME TIME OFFERING A DIALOGUE ON THE SUBJECT THROUGH INFORMAL CHANNELS. MIFT CONTAINS A DRAFT SPEAKING NOTE FOR THE

EMBASSY TO USE WHEN SPEAKING TO THE CHINESE.

2.

THE MAIN CONSIDERATION IN MY MIND IN REACHING THIS DECISION IS THAT, NOW THAT THE CHINESE HAVE MADE A FORMAL MOVE TO PUT THE MATTER ON THE AGENDA OF THE JLG, I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT IT WILL BE POSSIBLE TO GET THEM SIMPLY TO WITHDRAW THEIR PROPOSAL. WE HAVE RECENTLY HAD A NUMBER OF HIGH LEVEL EXPRESSIONS OF

THE DECISION TO RAISE CONCERN FROM THE CHINESE ON THIS ISSUE.

THE MATTER IN THE JLG CAN ONLY HAVE BEEN AUTHORISED AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL: THE CHINESE NEGOTIATORS ARE BOUND TO PRESS IT. TO TRY TO GET IT WITHDRAWN WOULD IN MY VIEW ONLY INCREASE CHINESE DETERMINATION TO PIN US DOWN. I THINK IT ESSENTIAL THEREFORE TO

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