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A
SECRET
Secretary of State
NKB 182/2
!
From:
RA Burns
Date:
Mr Paul: Hos
ministi
PS/Lord Caithness
Private Secretary
C. 15/3.
с
HONG KONG : PADS : THE WAY FORWARD
Problem
1.
Cc:
15 March 1991
PS/PUS
Miss Marsden, HKD
Mr Davies, FED
(254)
Mr Cornish, News Dept Resident Clerk
Discuned.
Minuto to Pm on
amended
How to take forward our tactics for a deal with the Chinese on PADS.
Recommendation
2.
I submit:-
(i) The draft message to Lu Ping from the Governor.
(ii) A draft minute to the Prime Minister, copied to
the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
-
3. I recommend that the Secretary of State should authorise the despatch of the message without waiting for any reaction from No 10. The Governor is very keen to contact Lu Ping as soon as he gets back to Hong Kong. If he does not despatch his message on Monday morning (Far East time) ie, Sunday evening (our time) the chances of getting Lu Ping back to Hong Kong next weekend, with fresh instructions, become pretty remote. I therefore also submit a draft telegram of instructions, the top copy of which is with the Resident Clerk. I am available over the weekend if required.
Background
4. The problem facing the Governor over PADS is set out in the attached background note. The issues we have been discussing this week concern:-
(a)
(b)
whether it is right to offer a figure now for the level of the Fiscal Reserves in 1997, since we know it will not satisfy the Chinese;
whether we are asking for enough in return for such a significant development upon the Joint Declaration;
SECRET
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.