TNAG-2116-FCO40-3021-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Sino-British-Joint-Declaration-action-ch-1990 — Page 161

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(c) Mr Maude focuses his attack on selected JLG subjects

of particular concern to Hong Kong on which progress has been blocked and to which we attach special priority.

These should include Air Services, Court of Final

Appeal.

Background

3.

We telegraphed on 26 June about the idea of handing over A B a JLG Subject Checklist (FCO telnos 1206 and 1207).

However, while they support the idea of a checklist for the

Chinese, UKREP JLG and Peking have expressed strong doubts

about whether it would be right for Mr Maude to hand it

UKREP JLG Hong Kong telno 178 and Peking telno 953

are attached.

over.

4. Mr Galsworthy and Mr Coates fear that passing the checklist at Mr Maude's level would send a confusing signal

to the Chinese, suggesting that we attach importance only to the routine and relatively minor issues of concern to the

JLG, while keeping off the important matters they want to discuss. Mr Galsworthy is also understandably concerned not to jeopardise his relationship with his opposite number in Hong Kong, by appearing to go over the head of Guo Fengmin.

5.

On reflection, I think that these are powerful

arguments. The items on the list are either matters which

have long been on the JLG agenda or ones which are of very minor importance. It might well seem odd if the initiative in handing over the list were to come at Mr Maude's level. It could provoke an unhelpful Chinese counter response, containing items which are unwelcome to us, resulting in fruitless discussions about which items should be given

priority. Rather than speed up the work of the JLG, the

CC7ABA/2

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