CONFIDENTIAL
077465
MDHIAN 5253
MIGHT BE POSSIBLE TO CONTINUE DISCUSSING THE SORT OF PACKAGE OUTLINED ABOVE WITH THE CHINESE, AND AT THE SAME TIME HAVE THEIR TACIT AGREEMENT TO GOING AHEAD WITH THE TENDERING EXERCISE.
6. THE NEXT STEP IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE WILL BE WHEN LU PING IS HERE NEXT WEEK. I AM DUE TO TALK TO HIM ON 4 MARCH. I ASSUME HIS POSITION WILL BE TO REINFORCE WHAT HAS BEEN SAID IN THE EXPERT TALKS. IF WE ARE TO HAVE ANY HOPE OF MOVING HIM FROM THIS, THEN WE NEED TO GET ACROSS TO THE CHINESE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE THE FACT THAT THERE IS NO POSSIBILITY OF US ACCEPTING THE RADICAL PACKAGE THEY PROPOSED AT THE EXPERT TALKS. OUT MEANS OF DOING THIS ARE LIMITED. ONE WOULD BE A MESSAGE FROM ME TO LU PING. A POSSIBLE DRAFT IS IN MIFT. ANOTHER WOULD BE FOR THE AMBASSADOR TO SPEAK TO THE MFA. A COMBINATION OF THE TWO MIGHT BE BEST, WITH THE AMBASSADOR SAYING THAT MINISTERS HAVE SEEN THE TEXT OF MY MESSAGE TO LU PING AND SHARE THE VIEW THAT THE CHINESE PROPOSALS DO NOT/NOT PROVIDE THE BASIS FOR AN AGREEMENT ON THE WAY FORWARD. I SEE ADVANTAGE IN SOMETHING BEING SAID ON BEHALF OF HMG AT THIS STAGE SINCE THE CHINESE PROPOSALS, PARTICULARLY ON FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS, ARE SUCH A MARKED DEPARTURE FROM THE JOINT DECLARATION.
7. WE NEED TO MOVE FAST ON THIS. LU PING IS DUE TO LEAVE PEKING FOR MACAU ON 27 FEBRUARY AT THE LATEST. I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR EARLY REACTIONS FROM YOURSELVES AND SIR A DONALD.
8. EXCO WILL BE BRIEFED ON THE OUTCOME OF THE EXPERT TALKS TOMORROW. I SHALL REPORT THEIR VIEWS AS NECESSARY.
WILSON
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
22
LIMITED
HKD
FED
DISTRIBUTION
22
PS/LORD CAITHNESS
MR MCLAREN
MR BURNS
NNNN
PAGE 3 CONFIDENTIAL
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