TNAG-2715-FCO40-3921-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1993 — Page 16

You repeated the Governor's phrase "weeks not months" to reach agreement with China. Wrong to set such deadlines/attempt to

put pressure on China/shows lack of British sincerity?

But

- We have been scrupulous to avoid announcing deadlines. the clock ticks inexorably on. The time-frame for these talks, as everybody knows (and anyone with a calendar can work out for himself) is dictated by the legal obligation to have arrangements in place in time for the elections to be held. I think it does no-one any harm to be reminded that there is not much time left if we are to narrow the gap.

- It should be clear to all by the practical efforts we have been making to narrow the gap, that we are sincere. We hope that we shall see commensurate efforts by the Chinese side in the talks during the weeks to come.

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SLM