TNAG-2225-FCO40-3196-Political-relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Australia-1991 — Page 72

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INDEX

Action 15-·.·

104264 MDLOAN 8555

انا بانا

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FROM SPD

UK/AUSTRALIA OFFICIALS' TALKS:

1.

POLITICAL TALKS

(CZ) RPA Calli (1940)

IN THE LIGHT OF MACKLEY'S HELPFUL TELELETTER OF 15 NOVEMBER WE HAVE SOUNDED OUT JOHN WESTON AND ANDREW BURNS WITH A VIEW TO THEIR FORMING THE CORE OF THE UK TEAM FOR THE TALKS. BETWEEN THEM THEY CAN COVER 95 PERCENT OF THE SUGGESTED AGENDA IN PARAGRAPH 6 OF THE TLR UNDER REFERENCE. IT WOULD MAKE FOR A PARTICULARLY EFFECTIVE UK SIDE. A THIRD AND, IF REALLY NECESSARY, A FOURTH MEMBER COULD BE ADDED TO COVER ITEMS OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF THE CORE MEMBERS, EG. MIDDLE EAST.

2.

BOTH WESTON AND BURNS ARE ATTRACTED BY THE IDEA OF PARTICIPATING IN THE TALKS AND BOTH CAN BE AVAILABLE, IN PRINCIPLE, TO VISIT CANBERRA IN MAY. IN FACT JOHN WESTON HAS TO BE IN HONG KONG AT THE BEGINNING OF MAY TO CHAIR A G7 MEETING. IF THE TALKS COULD BE HELD IN THE WEEK OF 6 MAY IT WOULD ENABLE HIM TO GO ON TO THEM FROM HONG KONG. IN ADDITION TO THE ADVANTAGES OF ECONOMIES IN TIME AND MONEY, THIS WOULD ALSO HAVE THE BENEFIT THAT WESTON COULD BRIEF THE AUSTRALIANS ON THE G7

MEETING.

3. GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD NOW SPEAK TO THE AUSTRALIANS TO SEEK THEIR PRELIMINARY VIEWS ON HOLDING THE TALKS OVER ONE OR ONE AND A HALF DAYS IN THE THREE DAY PERIOD 6 TO 8 MAY. THIS WOULD AVOID COINCIDENCE WITH SIR D WILSON'S VISIT. IF WE CAN GO FIRM ON THESE DATES SOON, IT WILL HELP US TO SECURE WESTON'S AND BURNS'S PARTICIPATION. YOU COULD ALSO EXPLORE THE AUSTRALIANS IDEAS ON AGENDA ON THE BASIS OF THE SUGGESTIONS IN MACKLEY'S TELELETTER, WITH THE ADDITION OF AN ITEM ON ASIA PACIFIC REGIONAL SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS, THOUGH OUR PRIORITY AT THIS STAGE IS TO MAKE PROGRESS ON DATES.

HURD

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