TNAG-2240-FCO40-3219-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Royal-Navy-presence-1991 — Page 125

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO IMMEDIATE UKREP JLG HONG KONG

TELNO 64

OF 23180OZ JULY 91

AND TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

INFO PRIORITY PEKING

1+3=

116172

TOP COPHOAN 7645 Q DIST?

GF

24/7.

HKR 063/1

Copy to

Aps/Lordc.

NAVAL PATROL CRAFT

1.

ет

MINISTERS MEET TOMORROW TO DECIDE THE FATE OF THE PATROL CRAFT. WE MUST BE PREPARED THAT THEY WILL DECIDE TO PROCEED WITH WITHDRAWAL. MOD ARE POISED TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT TO THIS

EFFECT BY WAY OF A WRITTEN PQ - PARLIAMENT RISES ON 25 JULY. IT IS CLEARLY IMPORTANT TO INFORM THE CHINESE IN ADVANCE OF ANY ANNOUNCEMENT, ALTHOUGH THE TIMING WILL BE VERY TIGHT INDEED. PLEASE THEREFORE STAND READY TO BRIEF GUO ON RECEIPT OF A

TRIGGER TELEGRAM FROM US.

2. SUBJECT TO HONG KONG'S VIEWS, WE SUGGEST YOU TAKE THE

FOLLOWING LINE WITH GUO. YOU SHOULD EMPHASISE THAT THE DECISION

HAS BEEN TAKEN IN THE CONTEXT OF THE OPTIONS FOR CHANGE EXERCISE AND ON ECONOMY GROUNDS. YOU SHOULD ALSO SAY THAT THIS DOES NOT ALTER

THE POSITION ON A NAVAL FACILITY FOR THE CHINESE: HKG ARE

PREPARED TO PROVIDE ONE, AT AN AGREED LOCATION. THESE POINTS SHOULD HELP TO PREEMPT ANY CHINESE SUSPICION THAT THE WITHDRAWAL

IS POLITICALLY MOTIVATED.

3

IF GUO COMPLAINS ABOUT THE LACK OF WARNING, YOU COULD SAY THAT THESE DECISIONS WERE ONLY FINALLY TAKEN BY HMG THIS WEEK.

4. WE WILL TOMORROW CLEAR WITH THE MOD AND SEND TO YOU, A LINE TO TAKE AND DEFENSIVE MATERIAL FOR LORD CAITHNESS TO DEPLOY IN PUBLIC IF NECESSARY.

HURD

YYYY

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CONFIDENTIAL