TNAG-2521-FCO40-3680-Future-of-Hong-Kong-International-Rights-and-Obligations-(IR-1992 — Page 5

CONFIDENTIAL HKC C31/20

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO PRIORITY HONG KONG

TELNO 1208

OF 101458Z AUGUST 92

INFO ROUTINE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

TOP COPY Q DIST?

CM

PA.

15

113674

MDLOAN 3271

JLG RESTRICTED

YOUR TELNO 1466: MULTILATERAL TREATIES: TELECOMMUNICATIONS

1.WE WILL BE WRITING TO CAB TO CLEAR UP THE CONFUSION OVER THE

RATIFICATION DATES FOR ITEMS 19.1 AND 19.7

2.THE SITUATION OVER ITEM 19.8 IS COMPLEX AND IT IS NOT (NOT)

CERTAIN THAT THE UK WILL RATIFY THE NICE CONSTITUTION AND

CONVENTION (COPY OF A MINUTE FROM ESED FOLLOWS BY FAX TO CAB). IN

THESE CIRCUMSTANCES PERHAPS WE SHOULD NOT MOVE AHEAD WITH THIS

ITEM AT THIS POINT BUT MERELY INFORM THE CHINESE THAT THE UK DOES

NOT INTEND TO CONSIDER RATIFICATON OF THE TREATY UNTIL AFTER THE

ADDITIONAL PLENIPOTENTIARIES MEETING IN GENEVA IN DECEMBER AND

THAT THERFOR WE SHOULD NOT DISCUSS THIS ITEM AT THIS TIME.

3.WE HAVE NO COMMENTS ON THE BRIEF EXPLANATORY NOTE ON ITEMS 19.2

AND 19.2(1). HOWEVER WE SUSPECT THAT THE CHINESE MAY REQUEST FURTHER INFORMATION ON WHY WE HAVE DECIDED THAT THESE TREATIES

SHOULD NO LONGER APPLY TO HONG KONG. NO DOUBT YOU WILL PREPARE DEFENSIVE MATERIAL FOR UKREP SHOULD THEY ASK. SHOULD WE CONSIDER HOW WE WILL INFORM THE DEPOSITORY OF THESE AGREEMENTS? SHOULD WE

ASK THE CHINESE TO PARTICIPATE IN INFORMING THEM JOINTLY?

4. WE HOPE THAT WE HAVE NOW SUPPLIED ALL THE INFORMATION YOU HAVE REQUESTED.

CHALKER

YYYY

1

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