TNAG-2178-FCO40-3115-Hong-Kong-nationality-international-support-1990 — Page 32

MyPaul,

I didn't know about this ('x')

In the light of camberra's info. that Australia erroneously believes ve is dongh for Int. Supp. I assume

Mr Mchavon will be putting them right?

CONFIDENTIAL: "9/2

FM CANBERRA

うに

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

CONFIDENTIAL

ARMARIS

Spoke to SPD. There

for Hong Kong

xa 20 minute alot

for the morning of 20 february.

MR Mclanen will be chaming

and I bchave

(Thetorical

question!:)

TELNO 138

OF 090500Z FEBRUARY 90th Paul

the meeting

i

a were

already

Mr Hague,

172

123711

MDHIAN 6064'

in mind the

Bearing in

evident time shortage difficulties (eg, see (c) below),

19/2. world this be an yetimity to

YOUR TELNO 90: UK/AUSTRALIA OFFICIAL TALKS

raise HK latienpport

Лыс

11. speak to SPD. Then any form

J9/2

1. IN FIELD'S AND WOOD'S ABSENCE WE SPOKE TO BOB WHITTY, DESK OFFICER IN WEST EUROPE BRANCH, WHO APOLOGISED FOR CROSSING WIRES BY BRINGING AUSTRALIA HOUSE INTO PLAY AGAIN.

нко 34.011

2. WHITTY SAID DFAT HOPED ALL THREE ITEMS COULD BE RESTORED AND THAT THE AUSTRALIAN PARTY WOULD BE FULLY BRIEYED ONGERY.

O 5 MAR 1990

HE MADE THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL POINTS:

DESK OFFICER

REGISTP

A) COMMONWEALTH: DFAT UNDERSTOOD THAT CODD'S INDE'S WOUPD NO Action To INVOLVE FCO OFFICIALS, BUT THERE WERE SOME GENERAL POLITICAL ISSUES THAT WERE WORTH DISCUSSION

B) ENVIRONMENT: DFAT'S PARTICULAR INTEREST HERE IS ANTARCTICA. ALTHOUGH JOHN BURGESS WOULD BE IN LONDON A FEW DAYS LATER, THEY WOULD STILL LIKE A NON SPECIALIST DISCUSSION WITH US.

C) SOUTHERN AFRICA: WE REASSURED WHITTY THAT THERE WAS NO POLITICAL INWARDNESS IN DROPPING SOUTHERN AFRICA (INCLUDING NAMIBIA), SIMPLY LACK OF TIME. HE REPLIED THAT IN THE LIGHT OF RECENT DEVELOPMENTS DFAT WOULD VERY MUCH WELCOME A BRIEFING FROM US.

D) DFAT AGREED TO DROP INDO-CHINA, AND TO LEAVE REGIONAL QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION OVER LUNCH.

3. WE EXPLAINED THE TIMING DIFFICULTY. WHITTY SAID DFAT APPRECIATED THE PROBLEM, AND RECOGNISED THAT ''BAD LIGHT MIGHT STOP PLAY ON SOME ITEMS, AND USUALLY DID IN TALKS OF THIS SORT, BUT NEVERTHELESS HOPED WE WOULD TRY TO FIT (A), (B) AND (C) ABOVE IN AGAIN. WE UNDERTOOK TO REPORT ACCORDINGLY, BUT EMPHASISED THAT WE COULD NOT MAKE ANY COMMITMENT.

COMMENT

4. IT WOULD BE GENERALLY HELPFUL IF YOU COULD MEET THE AUSTRALIANS' WISHES. IT WOULD BE PARTICULARLY USEFUL TO GIVE THEM OUR VIEWS ON

1

PAGE CONFIDENTIAL

Entfrmer