CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM PEKING
TO DESKBY 22173OZ F C O
TELNO 773
OF 221651Z MAY 91
AND TO DESKBY 230030Z HONG KONG
AND TO IMMEDIATE UKREP JLG HONG KONG
TOP COPY Q DIST?
26
053116 MDHIAN 786
HKB 18214
HONG KONG PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR, FROM BURNS.
UKREP JLG PERSONAL FOR GALSWORTHY.
AIRPORT TALKS: PRESS HANDLING.
·
1 THE TALKS ADJOURNED AMICABLY FOR REFLECTION BUT WITHOUT AN AGREEMENT AT MIDNIGHT LOCAL TIME (221500Z). ALSO BY MUTUAL AGREEMENT BOTH SIDES WILL SAY VERY LITTLE TO THE PRESS. WE WILL BASE OURSELVES HERE ON THE FOLLOWING SHORT PRESS LINE WHICH I HAVE AGREED IN GENERAL TERMS WITH THE CHINESE :
OVER THE LAST FIVE DAYS AS PREVIOUSLY AGREED, THE TWO SIDES HAVE HAD FURTHER DETAILED SERIOUS TALKS ABOUT THE NEW AIRPORT IN HONG KONG. SOME ISSUES REMAIN TO BE RESOLVED. THE TWO SIDES WILL TAKE STOCK AND REMAIN IN TOUCH.
2. I WILL SPEAK ON THESE LINES TO THE VISITING HONG KONG CORRESPONDENTS AT 10AM LOCAL TIME (23010OZ) TOMORROW. THE CHINESE WILL DEPLOY THE SAME LINE IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS. I HOPE THAT ALL BRIEFING IN LONDON AND HONG KONG WILL BE EQUALLY CIRCUMSPECT UNTIL THERE IS A CLEAR DECISION ON HOW TO PROCEED ON THE SUBSTANCE. THE CHINESE WILL BE WATCHING WHAT WE SAY LIKE A HAWK.
3.
UK COMMS: PLEASE ADVANCE IMMEDIATELY TO PS, PS/NO.10, PS/LORD CAITHNESS, PS/PUS, SIR COLES, MR BURNS, HEAD FED, HEAD HKD, SIR P CRADOCK (NO.10), AND J P MCINTYRE, TREASURY.
COATES
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