TNAG-1388-FCO40-1859-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Sino-British-Joint-Declaration-1985 — Page 128

CONFIDENTIAL

GPG 310

CONFIDENTIAL

DESKBY 16120JZ BOTH

FROM PEKING 16113OZ MAY 85

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

HKK04011)

TELNO 742 OF 16/5/85

318

MIPT: HONG KONG AGREEMENT: JOINT LIAISON GROUP:

RATIFICATION AND REGISTRATION AT THE U N

ранкконов

7 01TAY 1985

1. ZHOU SAID THAT ONCE THE QUESTION OF COMPOSITION WAS SOLVED, THE WAY WOULD BE CLEAR HO SOLVE THE QUESTION OF THE TIMING OF THE EXCHANGE OF INSTRUMENTS OF RATIFICATION. THE CHINESE SIDE HOPED THE EXCHANGE COULD TAKE PLACE AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE. I WOULD BE LEAVING PEKING ON 30 MAY AND HE WOULD BE LEAVING PEKING WITH ZHAO IN ADVANCE OF 2 JUNE. HE AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO RUSH TO COMPLETE THE CEREMONY IMMEDIATELY BEFORE OUR DEPARTURE. IT SHOULD TAKE PLACE AS LEAT TWO OR THREE DAYS BEFORE WE LEFT. I REMINDED ZHOU THAT WE HAD PROPOSED RATIFICATION IN THE BEEK BEGINNING 27 MAY. THE PROPOSAL STOOD. WE DID NOT WISH TO DRAG OUR FEET, BUT IT WAS NECESSARY FOR ALL LEGAL PROCEDURES TO BE COMPLETED BEFORE ENTRY INTO FORCE COULD TAKE PLACE.

2. ZHOU RECALLED THAT IT HAD BEEN AGREED THAT THERE SHOULD BE A PRESS STATEMENT IN ADVANCE TO ANNOUNCE THE DATE OF RATIFICATION. ITS TIMING COULD BE FIXED THROUGH CONSULTATIONS. THE CHINESE SIDE WOULD WELCOME OUR VIEWS.

3. ZHOU SAID THAT THE CHINESE SIDE HAD CONSIDERED OUR SUGGESTION THAT BOTH SIDES SHOULD MENTION THEIR INTENTION TO REGISTER THE JOINT DECLARATION AT THE UN DURING THE SHORT SPEECHES TO BE MADE AT THE RATIFICATION CEREMONY. THE CHINESE SIDE HAD CONCLUDED THAT THIS WAS NOT NECESSARY. THE TWO SIDES HAD AGREED TO REGISTER SEPARATELY AND THIS WOULD BECOME APPARENT TO THE WORLD AT THE TIME IT WAS DONE. I REPLIED THAT WE STILL CONSIDERED THAT IT WOULD SE HELPFUL IF SOME REFERENCE COULD BE MADE TO THE INTENTION TO REGISTER DURING THE SPEECHES. EVANS

HONG KONG AGREEMENT

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

HD/PLANNING STAFF

HD/PUSD

DEP HD/PUSD

RESEARCH DEPT (MR WALKER)

PS

PS/MR LUCE

PS/PUS

SIR W HARDING

MR WILSON

SIR J FREELAND

MR J CROWLEY, PUSD

COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)

MR ROBERTS, NEWS DEPT

MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS

MR MARTIN, ASST STAFF CABINET

MR MALLABY

OFFICE CABINET OFFICE KR DR C CHRISTO HER. CABINET OFF. SIR P CRADDOCK, No. 10 DOWNING ST.

CONFIDENTIAL