CONFIDENTIAL
FM PEKING
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1255
MAN297/7 CONFIDENTIAL
pa.
012231
MDHIAN 8230
TOP COPY Q DIST?
OF 090831Z SEPTEMBER 92
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
119)
FCO TELNO 71D: HONG KONG CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENTS: HANDLING THE CHINESE
1.
IN GENERAL WE AGREE WITH THE SPEAKING NOTE SUGGESTED IN TUR. WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS ON DETAIL:
1ST TIRET - AS DRAFTED THIS TIRET MIGHT SUGGEST TO OVERLY-SENSITIVE CHINESE EYES THAT HONG KONG MATTERS MIGHT BE COVERED BY THE TROIKA. WE SUGGEST REWORDING THE FINAL SENTENCE TO READ:
''SINCE INTERNATIONAL AND OTHER ISSUES (COMMENT: IE HUMAN RIGHTS, LEFT UNSAID) WILL ALREADY HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED AT THE TROIKA MEETING THE TWO MINISTERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO CONCENTRATE FULLY ON HONG KONG AND OTHER ESSENTIAL BILATERAL INTERESTS'.
2ND TIRET - NO COMMENT.
3RD TIRET SINCE THE CHINESE WOULD ARGUE THAT ALL ASPECTS OF POLITICAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES RELATE TO CONVERGENCE IN 1997 WE SUSPECT THEY WOULD TAKE UMBRAGE AT THE QUALIFICATIONS TO CONSULTATION IN THIS TIRET. WE SUGGEST THE OMISSION OF '
''CERTAIN MAJOR'' FROM THE 3RD LINE. THE SENSE WOULD REMAIN LARGELY UNCHANGED SINCE WE WOULD STILL MAKE CLEAR THAT WE ONLY PROPOSE TO CONSULT ABOUT THOSE ASPECTS RELATING TO CONVERGENCE IN 1997.
4TH TIRET - THE CHINESE WILL ASK THE THE SECRETARY OF STATE FROM LONDON.
MCLEAN
AMBASSADOR WHO MIGHT ACCOMPANY GRATEFUL FOR A NAME LIST.
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