TNAG-1639-FCO40-2284-Future-of-Hong-Kong-withdrawal-of-the-British-garrison-1987 — Page 4

JAUME UK NYES A Regy

D/ACDS(Pol/Nuc)113/8/12

13 Oct 87

Sec(0)(C)

Copy to:

MD/HDES

D. Cts (ROW)

D EX DNSD

M01

DI ROW

DMAO

D Pers

HAAL

D Air Supp

RMD 3

FCO Def Dept

539

! ¿c HKD.

FED.

have we

get previous

wn. Cantungut

papes?

ни

3. pla elestia

HKC062/1

нис

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

19 OCT 1987

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

N

15/10

.AY

Taken

COACG PAPER ON CHINA

Reference:

A.

D/Sec(0) (0)1/1/13 x 6/17 dated 25 Sep

NIT.

1. Thank you for a second sight of the above paper. While the general thrust of the paper still has our support, a specific defence policy aim, as we see it, is to get out of Hong Kong as planned with minimum trouble. Therefore contacts with the Chinese should be left reasonably low key, so that the "sell out" lobby in Hong Kong is not strengthened. D Def Pol would wish these points to be made more firmly.

2. Our only other point relates to attaches where we should be more robust than the paper now implies. We would like to see the paper suggest that some indirect linkage be applied on an opportunity basis. You can lobby a "Chinaman" forever, but when he sees his interests directly at stake he will then come to the table.

Jonallon brand

J BAND

Car

Def Pol 1

MB 7158 7346 MB

1

SECRESECRET UK EYELAK EVES A