TNAG-2611-FCO40-3802-International-support-from-the-USA-regarding-the-future-of-H-1992 — Page 51

CONFIDENTIAL

FM PEKING

TO TELELETTER F CO

TELELETTER N F R

OF 300826Z JANUARY 92

CONFIDENTIAL

Mus

NO

© Com Mr Burgs

Gen Hr

Mr Frend,

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106/1021/3

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34/i. No. I visited the

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Para 5:1 havert, Mene

INFO TELELETTER HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG, WASHINGTON

FROM

TELELETTER

SIR ROBIN MCLAREN, PEKING

NFR OF 29 JANUARY 1992

FOLLOWING FOR P F RICKETTS, HK D, F CO

COPIED TO

H LL DAVIES, F E D, F C 0

you

<the Hd of

Immigration.

I heard no

Cabelts of such

ふ

debate.

3.1. J^3/2

WILLIAM EHRMAN, POLITICAL ADVISER'S OFFICE, HONG KONG AR PAUL, UKREP JLG, HONG KONG SD PATTISON, WASHINGTON

POST-1997 US PRESENCE IN HONG KONG

1.

SUE AND I HAD LUNCH A QUATRE WITH MY US COLLEAGUE AND HIS WIFE ON 27 JANUARY. STAPLETON ROY USED THE OCCASION TO PICK MY BRAINS ON QUESTIONS RELATING TO THE SIZE AND SHAPE OF THE FUTURE US

REPRESENTATION IN HONG KONG.

2. ROY SAID THAT THIS WAS A QUESTION TO WHICH PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATION WAS ALREADY BEING GIVEN. THERE WERE DIFFERING, SOMETIMES ENTRENCHED, VIEWS AMONG THE VARIOUS AGENCIES INVOLVED AND ROY DID NOT ALTOGETHER TRUST THE OBJECTIVITY OF THE PEOPLE

CONCERNED IN HONG KONG. THE QUESTIONS IN HIS MIND INCLUDED:-

(1) WHETHER THE POST-1997 CONSULATE GENERAL SHOULD BE REGARDED AS JUST ANOTHER CHINA CONSULATE REPORTING TO THE AMBASSADOR IN PEKING OR WHETHER IT SHOULD HAVE SOME KIND OF INDEPENDENT STATUS. THE US/CHINA CONSULAR AGREEMENT PROVIDED FOR EACH SIDE TO MAINTAIN FIVE CONSULAR POSTS, WHICH THE US ALREADY HAD (PEKING, SHANGHAI, CANTON, CHENGDU, AND SHENYANG). HONG KONG WOULD BE AN ADDITION. THERE WAS A QUESTION WHETHER THE CONSULAR AGREEMENT WOULD NEED TO BE AMENDED

TO DEAL WITH IT.

(2) WHETHER THE HONG KONG CONSULATE GENERAL SHOULD CONTINUE TO CARRY OUT ALL OF ITS PRESENT FUNCTIONS INCLUDING THE CHINA WATCHING ROLE WHICH WAS TO SOME EXTENT A LEFT-OVER FROM THE PAST.

(3)

WHETHER SHIP VISITS WOULD BE ABLE TO CONTINUE ON ANYTHING LIKE THEIR PRESENT PATTERN, AND WHAT WOULD BE THE STATUS OF THE MILITARY

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CONFIDENTIAL