TNAG-2472-FCO40-3599-Confidential-talks-between-the-UK-and-China-regarding-financ-1992 — Page 136

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1471.

A) THE AIRPORT PROJECT.

B) CONTRACTS AND FRANCHISES SPANNING 1997.

C) PRIVATISATION AND CORPORATISATION.

D) THE PROSPECTS FOR GREATER SINO-BRITISH UNDERSTANDING ON

FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC QUESTIONS.

E) OTHER ISSUES WHICH COULD PROVE A SOURCE OF FRICTION WITH

THE CHINESE OR WITH THE TREASURY.

·

11 I LOOK FORWARD TO DISCUSSIN THIS WITH YOU BUT SUBJECT TO OUR TALK, BURNS JULD HOPE TO A RIVE (WITH COX AND BROADBENT) ON 1 APRIL. THEY COULD TACKLE THE MORE POLITICAL ASPECTS FIRST WHILE YOUR PEOPLE ARE TIED UP WITH THE BUDGET WITH LEGCO. THEY WOULD HOPE TO TALK TO UKREP JLG AND THE POLITICAL ADVISER CAND BTC) ANYWAY AS WELL AS THEIR CONTACTS IN THE HKG IT MIGHT ALSO BE USEFUL FOR BURNS TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TALK OVER OTHER MATTERS

SUCH AS SOME OF THE DEMOCRACY 1995 LEGCO ISSUES.

12.

I AM INCLINED TO THINK THAT A VISIT OF THIS KIND, REFLECTIVE RATHER THAN OPERATIONAL, WOULD BE OF GREAT HELP TO US IN BRIEFING AN INCOMING GOVERNMENT. IT COULD ALSO HELP TO CONVINCE THE TREASURY THAT WE FULLY UNDERSTAND HONG KONG GOVERNMENT POLICY AND ARE NOT SIMPLY REPLAYING TO THEM WHAT IS ASSERTED BY HONG KONG

13.

HURD

ANDREW BURNS WILL BE COMMENTING FURTHER ON YOUR TELNO 778.

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