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CONFIDENTIAL
4.
The present view of Clifford Chance, Attorney General's office and Counsel is that it would be better to handle the various matters raised by Osman by means of separate affidavits; so that, for example, because the question of the Joint Declaration and the final text of the Basic Law is a matter on which HMG, as a party to the JD, is best placed to attest, someone in the FCO should be the deponent. But the speciality assurance should be dealt with by means of an affidavit from the Attorney General's Department. Mr Grant said that a meeting was planned with Treasury solicitors and Clare Montgomery for the afternoon of Friday, 19 April. Subject to this he hoped to be able to let us have copies of the draft affidavits on 22 April and thought it would be useful for all interested parties to meet later this week to agree the strategy and finalise the texts. told him that I would inform our legal advisers and Mr Guy in SEAD and that I would certainly be available for such a meeting should it take place. I passed on the substance of the above to
Ms Barrett and Mr Guy.
4. In the light of Hong Kong telno 1204 I discussed the matter again with Ms Barrett and we agreed that she would telephone David Edwards in Hong Kong and Jonathon Ziegel, Treasury solicitors to discuss the tactics proposed by Mr Grant. I would separately telephone Mr Grant to ask when we would be receiving copies of the draft affidavits. The present position is that a meeting would be held tomorrow, 24 April, to finalise the text. Ms Barrett will advise us whether this is to be a "lawyers only" meeting or whether HKD should be represented.
Jchroni
J C Morris
Hong Kong Department
24 April 1991
cc: Mr Paul
Mr Cox
Ms Barrett, Legal Advisers Mr Guy, SEAD
CONFIDENTIAL
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