TNAG-1655-FCO40-2303-Hong-Kong-and-the-Customs-Co-operation-Council-(CCC)-1987 — Page 112

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BUT SAID THAT HE IMAGINED THAT THE SECRETRY-GENERAL WISHED TO

CONSULT THE POLICY COMMISSION FIRST PRECISELY IN ORDER TO ASSESS HOW

BEST TO HANDLE THE COUNCIL MEETING IN OTTAWA. WE HAD TO RELY ON THE

CCC SECRETARIAT TO GIVE SOUND ADVICE ON THIS.

4. WANG CONCLUDED BY SAYING THT THE CHINESE SIDE HAD NO OBJECTION IN

PRICNPLE TO THE COURSE OF ACTION PROPOSED BY DICKERSON AND

MACDONALD. HE HAD RAISED THE THREE POINTS ONLY FOR THE SAKE OF

PRUDENT PLANNING.

COMMENT

5. THE CHINESE SIDE ARE WILLING TO GO ALONG WITH THE COURSE OF

ACTION PROPOSED BY THE CCC BUT ARE ALSO CLEARLY NERVOUS ABOUT THE

RISKS INVOLVED IF A CCC MEMBER STATE CHOOSES TO EXPRESS A RESERVATION ABOUT OUR PROPOSAL, EITHER IN THE POLICY COMMISSION OR AT THE COUNCIL MEETING ITSELF. THEY ACCEPT, HOWEVER, THAT THE CCC SECRETARIAT IS IN THE BEST POSITION TO ADVISE ON SUCH MATTERS AND THEY SEEM WILLING TO CONTINUE TO FOLLOW SUCH ADVICE FOR THE TIME BEING.

6. PLEASE SEE MIFT FOR THE CHIENSE SIDE'S FURTHER, AND MORE FORMAL, COMMENTS.

EVANS

YYYY

PEHPAN 1567

HONG KONG AGREEMENT : RESTRICTED

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

RESEARCH DEPT.(FE)

DEP/HD PUSD

PS/MR RENTON MR MC LAREN MR GILLMORE

COPIES TO:

MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS MS

J HEALD HMCE, KINGS BEAM HOUSE, MARK LANE. LONDON EC

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