TNAG-1356-FCO40-1797-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 175

SECRET

5385

OCMIAN 5385

SECRET

DD 14010OZ HOKON

FM FCOLN TO HOKON

131600Z NOV

GRS 914

нки отп

VED IN REGISTKY

14 NOV 1985

SECRET

FM FCO

TO DESKBY 140100Z HONG KONG

TELNO 1778

OF 131600Z NOVEMBER 85

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

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(253)

INDEX

PA

in Inker

Адвеч

YOUR TELNOS 2490 AND 2491: JOINT LIAISON GROUP: REPRESENTATIVE

GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG

1.

2.

WE HAVE CONSULTED MINISTERS ON THIS SUBJECT.

WE AGREE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ISSUE AND FULLY

UNDERSTAND EXCO'S SENSITIVITIES. WE ALSO BROADLY AGREE WITH YOUR

ANALYSIS OF CHINESE MOTIVES IN MAKING THIS PROPOSAL.

3.

HOWEVER WE BELIEVE STRONGLY THAT IT WOULD BE A SERIOUS

MISTAKE TO RESPOND IN THE WAY THAT EXCO ADVISE, BOTH BECAUSE WE

THINK THAT THIS WOULD REDUCE OUR PROSPECTS OF SECURING THE

TWO-WAY DIALOGUE WHICH, AS EXCO SAY, WE NEED ON THIS SUBJECT, AND

BECAUSE WE THINK IT WOULD VERY SERIOUSLY REDUCE THE CHANCES OF

GETTING POSITIVE DECISIONS OUT OF THE JLG ON OTHER SUBJECTS.

4.

WE ARE NOT CLEAR WHY EXCO REGARD THIS LATTER RISK AS A

SMALL ONE. IT IS CLEAR THAT THERE IS HIGH LEVEL CONCERN AMONG

LEADERS IN CHINA ON THIS SUBJECT. IT IS INCONCEIVABLE THAT THE

CHINESE PROPOSAL TO RAISE IT AT THE JLG COULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN

WITHOUT HIGH LEVEL AUTHORISATION. WE SHOULD BE GIVING A DIRECT

REBUFF TO THIS ( WE DO NOT THINK THERE IS ANY DISTINCTION TO BE

MADE BETWEEN A CHINESE SUGGESTION AND A CHINESE DEMAND THAT

THE SUBJECT BE PLACED ON THE AGENDA: AT THIS STAGE IN THE

PROCEEDINGS THE CHINESE HAVE NO REASON TO DO ANYTHING STRONGER

1

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