SECRET
047204
MDHOAN 0960
SCHEME, WHICH WAS THE SUBJECT OF DISCUSSION AT SEVERAL PLENARY MEETINGS OF THE JLG. TO OFFER MUCH LESS THAN THAT WOULD NOT SIT
{ WELL WITH OUR READINESS TO STEP UP THE LEVEL OF CONSULTATIONS AND TO GET JLG BACK TO A NORMAL FOOTING.
5.
ALTHOUGH THERE MAY BE SOME ADVANTAGE IN KEEPING THIS MATTER OFF THE FULL JLG AGENDA, WE ARE ON REFLECTION INCLINED TO BELIEVE THAT THE MOST APPROPRIATE OCCASION ON WHICH TO PUT THIS ISSUE TO THE CHINESE WOULD BE JLG XVI. THIS WOULD MEAN HANDING OVER PAPERS IN ADVANCE (PROABLY IN AUGUST) AND OFFERING EXPERT TALKS AFTER JLG XVI. CONSIDERATION SHOULD ALSO BE GIVEN TO WHETHER IT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO SET A DEADLINE FOR AGREEMENT, FOR EXAMPLE BY MAKING IT CLEAR THAT DISCUSSION WOULD HAVE TO BE CONCLUDED AT JLG XVII IN ORDER TO ENABLE US TO GET ON WITH ANNOUNCING THE SCHEME.
6.
ALL THIS WOULD OF COURSE RULE OUT THE
POSSIBILITY OF ANNOUNCING THE SCHEME THIS AUTUMN, AS WE HAD HOPED. BUT WE FRANKLY DOUBT WHETHER THIS WOULD NOW BE POSSIBLE, GIVEN THE OTHER HOOPS (INCLUDING CONSULTATION WITH THE STAFF ASSOCIATIONS) WHICH STILL HAVE TO BE GONE THOUGH.
7.
HURD
GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS AND THOSE OF UKREP JLG AND PEKING.
YYYY
DISTRIBUTION
17
MAIN
LIMITED
HKD
ADDITIONAL
MR FISH, ODA
NNNN
16
MR MCLAREN
MR BURNS
PAGE
SECRET
2
THIS IS A COPY
THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN
CLOSED UNDER
FOI EXEMPTION NO....27(1)
*
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.