TNAG-2503-FCO40-3641-Talks-between-China-and-the-European-Community-regarding-Hon-1992 — Page 14

CONFIDENTIAL

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meeting during the visit (with the distinct possibility of Li Peng meeting the Foreign Ministers involved) would be to give Li Peng's visit a Community dimension about which the Twelve have not taken a view.

I understand that Sir J Coles is minuting separately about the Portuguese suggestion (in Mr. Gozney's minute) that Hong Kong and Macao should be on the Troika agenda.

2. In the light of the above I think we should telegraph Lisbon and Peking urgently alerting them to the need to press the Portuguese to seek formal agreement among the Twelve before putting their ideas to the Chinese. Embassies in Peking might be asked for views before the next Political Committee on 14-15 January. I submit a draft telegram.

3. I am sending an advance copy of this to Private Secretary, since Mr Keefe's submission has already been seen by Mr Lennox-Boyd.

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H LI Davies

CONFIDENTIAL

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