TNAG-1940-FCO40-2766-Future-of-Hong-Kong-defence-and-public-order-1989 — Page 240

SECRET

180

130674

MDHOAN 5124

HKC062/1

SECRET

FM FCO

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELNO 1529

OF 17200OZ JULY 89

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

178

(179

FROM HKD

YOUR TELNO 2370 AND PEKING TELNO 1364: DEFENCE AND PUBLIC ORDER:

CENTRAL WANCHAI RECLAMATION

1. THANK YOU FOR TUR WHICH WE HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS

WITH WIGGHAM TODAY. WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR FURTHER THOUGHTS IN THE LIGHT OF PEKING'S HELPFUL COMMENTS, WITH WHICH WE HAVE GOOD DEAL OF SYMPATHY.

2. WE FULLY APPRECIATE THE HONG KONG DYNAMICS.

WE CAN ALSO SEE THAT UNDER THE PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES

PROCEEDING WITH THE RECLAMATION WOULD BOOST CONFIDENCE, WHEREAS TO DELAY, PARTICULARLY FOR REASONS PERCEIVED TO RELATE TO CHINA, WOULD BE A BLOW TO CONFIDENCE.

3

CLEARLY, WE CANNOT DELAY DECISIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR EVER. BUT ANY UNILATERAL ACTION WE MIGHT CONSIDER TAKING MUST BE WEIGHED AGAINST THE POSSIBLE DAMAGE IT MIGHT CAUSE TO HONG KONG'S

OTHER INTERESTS WHERE THE COOPERATION OF THE CHINESE IS NEEDED. THAT DOES NOT NECESSARILY POINT TO DELAY INDEED THAT MAY NOT BE

-

A PRACTICABLE OPTION. BUT IT DOES INDICATE THE NEED FOR GREAT CARE IN THE HANDLING OF A DECISION TO PROCEED.

4.

A FURTHER POINT IS THAT IT MAY BE THAT THE TIMING OF YOUR ADDRESS TO LEGCO WOULD COINCIDE WITH JLG XIII (DEPENDING OF COURSE ON WHAT DATES ARE AGREED FOR THAT MEETING).

5. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR FURTHER ADVICE ON WHETHER IT WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT ON

11 OCTOBER, AND IF SO, WHETHER IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO BE LESS SPECIFIC ON MATTERS OF DETAIL, EG THE LOCATION OF THE REPLACEMENT

NAVAL BASIN.

6.

IN ANY CASE, WE THINK IT VERY IMPORTANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S PROPOSED MEETING WITH THE CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER ON 30 JULY IN THE MARGINS OF THE CAMBODIA CONFERENCE TO FLAG UP OUR INTENTIONS CLEARLY THAT WOULD TO SOME EXTENT MAKE UP FOR THE FACT THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DISCUSS THE MATTER IN JLG THIS MONTH, AS ORIGINALLY

*

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