TNAG-1655-FCO40-2303-Hong-Kong-and-the-Customs-Co-operation-Council-(CCC)-1987 — Page 97

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FM PEKING

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 1133

OF 180213Z JUNE 87

CONFIDENTIAL

INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG, BRUSSELS, UKREP BRUSSELS.

YOUR TELNO.5801 HONG KONG AND THE CCC

TOP COPY C DIST ?

1. DURING PIGOTT'S CALL ON LIN ZHIYING ON 17 JUNE, WANG WEIYANG, WHO WAS ALSO PRESENT, RAISED THE SUBJECT OF THE CCC, MAKING CLEAR THAT HE WAS ACTING ON INSTRUCTIONS.

2. WANG THANKED PIGOTT FOR BRIEFING HIM ON 13 JUNE ON THE SITUATION IN BRUSSELS (MY TELNO.1102). THE CHINESE SIDE AGREED IN PRINCIPLE WITH THE STEPS PROPOSED BY THE SECRETARY-GENERAL. THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO RAISE HONG KONG'S MEMBERSHIP AT THE OTTAWA COUNCIL MEETING HAD TO BE TAKEN PRUDENTLY

·

3. BEFORE 1997, UK WAS FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR HONG KONG'S FOREIGN RELATIONS AND WAS THUS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE APPLICTION FOR CCC MEMBERSHIP. THE PRC HAD ONLY A SUPPORTING ROLE TO PLAY. IF THE MATTER WAS TO BE RAISED IN THE OTTAWA COUNCIL MEETING, IT WOULD BE FOR THE BRITISH AND CHINESE DELEGATIONS THERE TO LIAISE ON THE SPOT.

4. PIGOTT WELCOMED THE CHINESE SIDE'S ACCEPTANCE OF THE SECRETARY- GENERAL'S ADVICE, AND EXPRESSED THANKS FOR THE CHINESE OFFER OF SUPPORT AND CO-ORDINATION IN OTTAWA. ON THE NEED FOR PRUDENCE, PIGOTT ADDED THAT WE HAD ACCEPTED THIS PRINCIPLE RIGHT FROM THE START OF OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE ON HONG KONG AND THE CCC.

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THOMSON

YYYY

PEHPAN 1774

HONG KONG AGREEMENT : RESTRICTED

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

RESEARCH DEPT.(FE)

DEP/HD PUSD

PS/LORD GLENARTHUR

MR MC LAREN MR GILLMORE

COPIES TO:

MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS

CONFIDENTIAL