TNAG-1655-FCO40-2303-Hong-Kong-and-the-Customs-Co-operation-Council-(CCC)-1987 — Page 145

GRS 189

CONFIDENTIAL

FM PEKING

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 982

OF 290605Z MAY 87

CONFIDENTIAL

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, BRUSSELS

111/1

(36

Adoo do1

MY TELNO 966 AND YOUR TELNO 506: HONG KONG AND THE CCC

1. WE HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED CONFIRMATION FROM BRUSSELS THAT THE WEEK BEGINNING 1 JUNE POSES NO PROBLEMS FOR THEM (PARA 3 OF YOUR TUR).

2. SINCE THE NUMBER OF DRAFTING CHANGES TO THE CHINESE SPEAKING NOTE WHICH WE WISH TO PROPOSE TO THE CHINESE IS LARGE, THIS WILL REQUIRE A CALL ON LIN ZHIYING IN ORDER TO EXPLAIN THEM. WE ARE UNLIKELY, NOW, TO BE ABLE TO SECURE A CALL ON HIM BEFORE 1 JUNE (BECAUSE OF THE MFA'S USUAL DIFFICULTIES IN PROVIDING MEETING ROOMS AT SHORT NOTICE).

3. WITH THIS IN MIND, AND SINCE THE CHINESE WILL WISH TO STUDY OUR PROPOSALS BEFORE GOING FIRM ON THEM, WE THINK WE SHOULD CHANGE THE LAST SENTENCE IN THE LINE TO TAKE IN PARA 4 OF MY TUR TO READ

IN THE WEEK BEGINNING 8 JUNE''. (THIS TIMING, OF COURSE, REDUCES OUR CHANCES OF BEING ABLE TO PUT HONG KONG'S APPLICATION BEFORE THE CCC COUNCIL IN OTTAWA LATER IN JUNE).

1

GRATEFUL TO KNOW DESKBY 30010OZ WHETHER THIS IS ACCEPTABLE TO YOU AND TO BRUSSELS. WE CAN THEN TRY FOR A CALL ON LIN ON 1 JUNE.

EVANS

YYYY

PEHPAN 1045

HONG KONG AGREEMENT: RESTRICTED

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

RESEARCH D. (FE)

DEP.HD/PUSD

PS/MR RENTON

MR MCLAREN

MR GILLMORE

CONFIDENTIAL

COPIES TO:

MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS