TNAG-2277-FCO40-3276-Hong-Kong-and-the-media-1991 — Page 22

CONFIDENTIAL

ADVANCE 3 3/1

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MDADAN 6801

FIDENTIAL

FM UKREP JLG HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 15120OZ F C O

TELNO 546

OF 15110OZ NOVEMBER 91

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, HONG KONG

14

MIPT: SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST EDITORIAL ON JLG

1.

YOUR EDITORIAL OF 15 NOVEMBER SHOWS SUCH A PROFOUND MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE NATURE OF DISCUSSIONS WITHIN THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP THAT I FEEL BOUND TO ASK YOU TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT BY PUBLISHING THIS LETTER.

THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP IS A DIPLOMATIC BODY: THE TASK OF THE TWO SIDES WHICH COMPRISE IT IS TO NEGOTIATE ON THE MATTERS WHICH FALL WITHIN ITS TERMS OF REFERENCE, AND TO SEEK AGREEMENT ON THEM. LIKE DIPLOMATS ANYWHERE, THE HEADS OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP TAKE INSTRUCTIONS FROM THEIR CAPITALS: THEY DO NOT DECIDE MATTERS OF SUBSTANCE THEMSELVES. IN THE CASE OF LONDON THESE INSTRUCTIONS ARE WORKED OUT IN THE CLOSEST CONSULTATION WITH THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT. THERE IS THUS NO QUESTION OF THE JLG BY ITSELF DECIDING ANYTHING, STILL LESS IMPOSING IT ON HONG KONG. THE IDEA THAT THE JLG IS RUNNING, COULD RUN OR WISHES TO RUN HONG KONG IS ABSURD.

AS I MADE CLEAR WHEN SPEAKING TO THE PRESS AFTER THE AGREEMENT ON THE CFA WAS REACHED, THE DECISION TO AGREE THE COMPROMISE FORMULA ON THE COMPOSITION OF THE CFA WAS TAKEN WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, IN LINE WITH THE ADVICE OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.

I BELIEVE THAT THIS DECISION WAS RIGHT, AND AGREE WITH SIR ROBIN MCLAREN THAT THE DEAL IS REASONABLE AND WORKABLE.

THE HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WILL HOWEVER HAVE ITS OWN OPPORTUNITY TO JUDGE THIS, SINCE IT WILL IN DUE COURSE HAVE TO CONSIDER THE LEGISLATION TO ESTABLISH THE COURT.

GALSWORTHY

YYYY

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