COLAGO
ONFIDENTIAL
HKK 040/12
20 MAY 1985
FILE
106
FROM: A C GALSWORTHY, HKD
ADA
DATE: 17 May 1985
сору би
HKK 040/11
Private Secretary
cc: PS/Mr Luce
Dr Wilson
News Department
Parliamentary Unit
HONG KONG AGREEMENT: ANNOUNCEMENTS ON RATIFICATION AND JOINT LIAISON
GROUP
1.
Now that we have agreed with the Chinese on the composition of
the Joint Liaison Group we need to reach agreement quickly on the
timing of an announcement of the date for ratification (27 May). In
practice,
of the general awareness
of the existence of a
problem on the Joint Liaison Group it is essential composition of the Joint Liaison Group and use our agreed defensive line on the steps we have taken to grant Eric Ho British citizenship
at the
because
time same
the as
announcement
on
to
ratification.
announce
the
Otherwise
there will be uncontrolled speculation in the Hong Kong press which
it more difficult to get acros S our Own
may make
2.
to
line.
I assume that in view of past commitments Ministers will wish
inform Parliament of what is agreed on the Joint Liaison Group.
venue include details of the date and Ideally this should
assume
for the
first meeting. These
be agreed by early next week. I that Ministers will prefer not to anticipate such an announcement in
may
Parliament with
a press
statement.
press
is
already
that aware
On
the
other hand,
since the
from
an application for citizenship Eric Ho has been received, we cannot afford to wait very long.
answer
to
that
3. The earliest an inspired written question could now be arranged would be on Tuesday 21 May. We have therefore instructed Peking to
suggest
the Chinese
made announcements should not
be
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