TNAG-2676-FCO40-3873-Hong-Kong-garrison-withdrawal-plan-1993 — Page 27

100942Z

REFERRED TO MR RICKETTS FOR DIST ADVICE: NONE SUGGESTED

SECRE572

LNMDAN S572

PEHPAN 8478

HKA 063/1.

1-JUN 1993

dion Taken:

PP FCOLN

FM PEKIN TO FCOLN

100845Z JUM

GRS 214

SECRET

FM PEKING

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 796

OF 100845Z JUNE 93

INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG.

PERSONAL FOR RICKETTS, HKD

HONG KONG PERSONAL FOR POLITICAL ADVISER

WITHDRAWAL OF THE GARRISON: BRIEFING THE CHINESE

1.

WE WERE GRATEFUL FOR SIGHT OF THE PAPER COPIED UNDER BUNTEN'S (HKD) FAXED LETTER OF 9 JUNE TO COX.

90'

2. WE AGREE THAT THE CHINESE SHOULD BE BRIEFED ON MINISTERS' DECISIONS AS SOON AFTER THEY HAVE TAKEN THEM AS POSSIBLE. (PRESUMABLY THIS WILL BE DONE BY UKREP JLG SINCE THE SUBJECT WAS DISCUSSED PREVIOUSLY IN THE JLG FORUM). THE BRIEFING WILL NEED TO MAKE IT CLEAR, WITHOUT LABOURING THE POINT, THAT

-

J

THE CHINESE ARE BEING INFORMED, NOT CONSULTED. HOWEVER IT WILL BE IMPORTANT TO ALLOW THE CHINESE A LITTLE TIME TO ABSORB THE BRIEFING

AND TO REVERT WITH ANY COMMENTS OR REQUESTS FOR CLARIFICATION BEFORE THE DECISIONS ARE ANNOUNCED OR LEAKED. THIS IS A LESSON WE HAVE LEARNT IN DEALING WITH THE CHINESE IN OTHER AREAS, AND IT IS PARTICULARLY RELEVANT IN THE SENSITIVE AREA OF DEFENCE, WHERE WE HAVE RECENT EXPERIENCE OF THE CHINESE REACTING IN A PARANOIAC WAY TO BRITISH MOVES.

3. I HOPE WE WILL BE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON THE LINE TO BE TAKEN WITH THE CHINESE. IN A MATTER OF THIS KIND IT WOULD BE AS WELL TO HAND OVER A COPY OF THE SPEAKING NOTE.

MCLAREN

YYYY

PEHPAN 8478

93