TNAG-1597-FCO40-2182-Hong-Kong-1987-Review-of-Representative-Government-1987 — Page 130

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Washington.

I understand that, following discussions with Mr Shultz

and Sir A Acland, the Secretary of State has in any event now

decided against an evening meeting with Mr Shultz in Washington on

28 April.

4.

There is one further factor which may need to be taken into

account. On 25 November, 1986 most of the South Pacific states

signed the Protection of the Natural Resources and Environment of

the South Pacific Region (SPREP) Convention. France and the USA

also signed despite their known policies on nuclear testing and dumping. The UK alone of the metropolitan powers did not do so, although we have made clear that, should a Convention appear with which we could live, we would sign. MAFF, who lead on this subject, have serious reservations on the Convention because of its potential

impact on the UK's position at the London Dumping Convention.

Subject to Legal Advisers views on the international law implications of the Convention, we are about to put the politicial case for UK signature to MAFF. If agreement can be reached on such

one a move possibility would be for the Secretary of State to sign the Convention during his stay in Fiji. The signing ceremoney would

take place at the South Pacific Bureau for Economic Cooperation, the

organisation of which Mr Naisali is Director.

5. If the Secretary of State can agree the current programme, we shall ask our posts to begin detailed discussions with their host

governments.

1.

shauquen

Thompson\

South Pacific Department

HKD will be submitting separately on contracts with the Chinese this year over developments in Hong Kong. A possible meeting with Wu in Bangkok will be an important part of that

strategy.

2. If the meeting with Wu takes place in Bangkok, the

Secretary of State will need time for a decent meeting and

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