TNAG-2451-FCO40-3568-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-1992 — Page 171

CONFIDENTIAL

ZCZC

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO IMMEDIATE PEKING

TELNO

OF 091134Z SEP 92

AND TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

IMMEDIATE

OUR TELNO 710: HONG KONG CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENTS:

HANDLING THE CHINESE

x

1.

We regret that TUR did not explain why the draft speaking note does not set out a Hong Kong agenda for the meeting with Qian Qichen on 25 September on quite the lines envisaged in para

7 of our telno 697. But as you may have deduced, on further reflection here, and subject to your and copy addresses' views,

we judged it better not specifically to flag up in advance the

airport, air services or defence lands, in case this led the Chinese to suppose that the Secretary of State would be making

new proposals. In fact the ball is now in the Chinese court on

all three subjects. Hence our proposed general reference to the

JLG and possible, political decisions. As for civil service

issues, there is no suggestion that the Secretary of State should

enter into the substance of these with Qian: just that he should

whet the Chinese appetite by telling him that the Governor will

wish to do so with Lu Ping in October. So there is no advantage in the Ambassador's mentioning the subject before the 25

has been

SPKG.LUPING

HKD

N J COX

September

270 2650