TNAG-1636-FCO40-2252-Visits-by-FCO-officials-to-Hong-Kong-1987 — Page 68

CONFIDENTIAL

We

to secure suitable property, of which we can be certain

of retention, for the Consulate-General after 1997.

will have to ensure, for example, that the Secretary of

State for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs will not be

regarded by the Chinese as a manifestation of the Crown

if title is taken in his name, as is normal practice with

the Diplomatic Estate. (Any agreement over title should

embrace all the Consulate-General's accommodation needs,

including staff housing.)

11.

We would not expect the Chinese to raise any

objection to our wish to plan for a Consulate-General

after 1997, given the Joint Declaration provision quoted

in paragraph 1 above. It is possible, however, that

when we consult them they will ask us for assistance in

connection with their own plans to establish an office in

Hong Kong in which to base their JLG representatives once

the Group moves its principal base there in 1988.

also clearly envisage some form of formal central

government representation in the SAR after 1997 for which

they may also hope to enlist our assistance in locating

premises.

They

Any request from the Chinese for assistance in

either of these matters would require detailed

consultation with the Hong Kong Government, since the

arrangements, and in particular any financial

consequences, would have to be agreed with them.

CONFIDENTIAL