TNAG-2265-FCO40-3262-Hong-Kong-airport-Sino-British-Joint-Liaison-Group-Airport-C-1991 — Page 41

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2001

MDHIAN 4699

CONDUCTED IN INFORMAL MEETINGS AS WELL AS FORMAL ONES, AND THAT SUCH MEETINGS NEED NOT NECESSARILY INVOLVE ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. WE WOULD CLEARLY NEED TO PROVIDE FOR THE ATTENDANCE OF EXPERTS WHEN NECESSARY.

6. WE WOULD PROPOSE THAT MEETINGS OF THE COMMITTEE WHETHER INFORMAL OR FORMAL SHOULD BE HELD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER EITHER SIDE REQUESTS THEM. WE SEE THE MOST IMPORTANT OBJECTIVE HERE AS BEING TO PREVENT THE CHINESE USING DELAYING TACTICS.

IN THE EARLY STAGES THERE WILL BE LITTLE BUSINESS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE AREAS WHICH THE MOU LAYS DOWN FOR THE AIRPORT COMMITTEE. WE WOULD PROPOSE HOWEVER TO USE THE JLG AND IN DUE COURSE THE AIRPORT COMMITTEE AS A VEHICLE FOR DISCUSSION OF SUCH THINGS AS NOMINATIONS TO THE CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE, AND THE CHINESE NOMINATION TO THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY. WE WOULD ALSO TRY TO INITIATE A FLOW OF GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE AIRPORT PROJECT TO THE CHINESE SIDE IN ORDER TO INCREASE CONFIDENCE BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES, AND TO IMPROVE CHINESE UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IS GOING ON. THERE IS A RISK THAT PROVIDING A FLOW OF INFORMATION ON SUBJECTS OUTSIDE THE STRICT TERMS OF REFERENCE OF THE AIRPORT COMMITTEE COULD TEMPT THE CHINESE TO SEEK CONSULTATION IN THE AREAS WHICH GO BEYOND THE COMMITTEE'S TERMS OF REFERENCE. FOR THAT REASON I INTEND TO TELL GUO IN ADVANCE THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO USE THE COMMITTEE TO PASS INFORMATION ABOUT THE AIRPORT PROJECT TO THE CHINESE WHICH GOES BEYOND THE COMMITTEE'S STRICT TERMS OF REFERENCE, AND TO ASK FOR HIS ASSURANCE THAT HE WOULD NOT USE THIS FLOW OF INFORMATION TO TRY TO EXTEND CONSULTATION BEYOND THE TERMS OF REFERENCE.

8. GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS.

GALSWORTHY

YYYY

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