Mr Ir Stone
enter
کا
Wis
Private Secretary
Scurlon & State
214
SECRET
From:
PS/Mr Maude
Date:
23 August 1989
Cc:
Mr Gillmore o/r
Mr McLaren
Miss Marsden, HKD News Dept
Bob -pl. refers
HONG KONG:
1.
DEFENCE LANDS AND THE CENTRAL/WANCHAI RECLAMATION
Mr Maude has seen Mr Paul's submission of 18 August. He agrees that the Secretary of State should discuss this issue again with the Chinese Foreign Minister at UNGA, and that it should be raised at JLG XIII. In order to protect our overall negotiating position on defence issues, however, he believes that this might best be done in one of the private sessions of JLG XIII, rather than in the plenary. This should reduce the risk of leaks, and consequent damage to our credibility in Hong Kong (para 3).
2.
Mr Maude believes we should point out to the Chinese that, as we had warned them at JLG XII, we needed to press ahead with the Central/Wanchai Reclamation project in the interests of the continued prosperity of Hong Kong. The Governor would make a carefully worded public announcement on 11 October. This would not, however, prejudice longer term negotiations on a comprehensive package on defence lands.
3.
11
He
Mr Maude accordingly agrees that the Governor should announce the project in his speech to LegCo on 11 October. prefers the fuller version in annex A. He is not, however, convinced that the draft press brief is adequate to deal with all the likely questions that will be put. This will clearly need more work in consultation with Hong Kong and Peking. should be in a better position to do this when we can gauge the likely Chinese reaction following the discussions in New
York and at JLG XIII.
Ian Lyn Grant
Mark Lyall Grant Private Secretary to Francis Maude
We
HKC062/1
SECRET
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