122
hla Ricketts
SECRET
På
30/G
24 JUN 1991
FROM: P F Ricketts
Hong Kong Dept
Hong Kong Dept The Minister was grateful FROM: for this submission and for your attending the meeting with Zheng Jingiong. The two attoded telgrams have issued.
Mr Hum
PS/M Goodlad
LestorD
APS/ME GOODLAD
29/6/93
Mas seen. His charges
to the Felyn
DATE: 24 June 1993
CC:
Sir J Coles Sir T Daunt Mr Fry, FED
are now incorporated
Дела
A32616
2576
A
HONG KONG GARRISON: CONSULTING THE CHINESE
1.
The Memorandum from the Foreign and Defence Secretaries proposes that, subject to any comments by OPD (K) members by 25 June, we should inform the Chinese of the decision to withdraw the Second Hong Kong Battalion in June 1993 and the third in September 1993. At the Governor's suggestion it was decided that Mr Goodlad should inform the Chinese Embassy at the same time as UKREP JLG inform the Chinese JLG. Hong Kong Telno 1023 contains a draft speaking note for use by UKREP JLG.
We
2. I now submit a telegram commenting on the draft for use in Hong Kong and a speaking note for use by Mr Goodlad, which has been cleared with the MOD. It is compatible with the Hong Kong speaking note although somewhat shorter. have sent it to Hong Kong for their comments. I recommend that the Chinese charge, Mr Zheng Jinjiong be invited to call on the Minister on 28 June. The aim of the briefing is to give the Chinese side plenty of warning of the announcement of the decision and to present it as part of a continuing process of planning, and fully consistent with earlier projections given to the Chinese side. The defensive points make clear however that this is not a subject on which we are prepared to accept consultation with the Chinese.
3.
At the Governor's suggestion the speaking note also offers that military experts should meet to discuss practical arrangements for the transfer of the military estate and garrison duties. These contracts, of a practical nature would
not contravene the 1989 Madrid declaration of the Twelve on senior military contacts with China which forbids contacts at the two-star general level and above.
SECRET
zheng.good.sub/DEFENCE
+4
HKA 063/1
REC
Y
30 JUL 1993
DESK
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