CONFIDENTIAL
hkc 031/24
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE UKREP JLG HONG KONG TELNO 71
OF 101605Z SEP 91
1
PERSONAL FOR GALSWORTHY FROM RICKETTS,
P.c
HKD
Ков
7119
орм
(2
104434 MDHOAN 0357
Topm the Cox Сох e return pre
1.
I HAVE HAD A MINUTE FROM PRIVATE OFFICE (COPY FAXED TO YOU) ON THEIR RETURN FROM HONG KONG SAYING THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS KEEN TO START RECEIVING PERIODIC REPORTS ON JLG
BUSINESS. IT HAD OCCURRED TO US EVEN BEFORE RECEIVING THIS THAT IT WOULD BE VERY MUCH IN OUR COLLECTIVE INTEREST TO KEEP THE SECRETARY OF STATE UP-TO-DATE ON THE MAIN JLG ISSUES NOW THAT HE HAS MASTERED THEM, AND ALSO IN THE LIGHT OF HIS COMMITMENT TO HAVE SIX-MONTHLY SESSIONS WITH QIAN TO BREAK LOGJAMS.
2.
OBVIOUSLY YOUR JLG REPORTING TELEGRAMS ARE NOT DESIGNED TO BE SHOWN TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE. HAVING TALKED THIS OVER WITH ANDREW BURNS AND NIGEL COX, I THINK THAT THE BEST WAY OF MEETING THE REMIT WOULD BE TO ASK YOU TO LET US HAVE A VERY SHORT (1-2 SIDES) SITREP, SAY FORTNIGHTLY, WRITTEN FOR MINISTERIAL CONSUMPTION RATHER THAN FOR JLG EXPERTS. WE WOULD SUBMIT THAT WITH ANY ADDITIONAL GLOSSES FROM THE DEPARTMENT, RECOMMENDATIONS FOR USING FORTHCOMING MINISTERIAL CONTACTS ETC.
3=
"/
I HOPE YOU WILL AGREE THAT THIS WOULD BE FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD. BUT I SENSE THAT, IN ADDITION TO REGULAR UPDATING ON JLG BUSINESS, THE SECRETARY OF STATE WILL ALSO BE KEEN TO HAVE RELIABLE EARLY WARNING OF A WIDER RANGE OF FORTHCOMING HONG KONG EVENTS, DECISIONS AND DEADLINES OF POLITICAL INTEREST. I KNOW THAT WE RECEIVE A ROUND-UP ROUGHLY EVERY TWO MONTHS FROM THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OF ''POLITICALLY SENSITIVE ISSUES''. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS WITH YOU AND ALAN PAUL IN LONDON LATER IN THE MONTH WHETHER THERE ARE ANY ADDITIONAL, INFORMAL, WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN CATER FOR THIS HEIGHTENED MINISTERIAL INTEREST WITHOUT ADDING UNDULY TO PEOPLE'S BURDENS.
4 -
IN THE MEANTIME, COULD YOU LET ME KNOW WHETHER YOU COULD DO A FORTNIGHTLY JLG SITREP? IF YOU AGREE, WE WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE THEM ON ALTERNATE WEDNESDAYS SO THAT WE CAN SUBMIT THEM FOR MINISTERS' WEEKEND BOXES. A FIRST SITREP ON 18 SEPTEMBER LOOKING AT THE PROSPECTS FOR THE JLG THE FOLLOWING WEEK WOULD BE
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CONFIDENTIAL
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