TNAG-2718-FCO40-3924-Hong-Kong-electoral-provisions-and-arrangements-1993 — Page 100

SECRET

IMMEDIATE

agreed in TUR, Mr Goodlad is calling in Ambassador Ma on 4 June

to propose that we should hold two rounds in the course of June

(14-16 June, and a further round early in the week of 21 June)

and should aim by the end of these to have discussed the two

sides' views on all the outstanding issues including our four

points. Realistically, the Chinese side will probably not move

that fast (or if they do, we shall simply get re-heated versions

of points they have already made about the FCs, the Election

Committee and the through train). If so, we would be in danger

by the end of June of running out of material to keep the

negotiations going.

4. We accept that it could be difficult for OPD(K) to decide to

give the negotiators new authority to accept changes to your

proposals on the basis of the guide-lines you discussed with ExCo

on 1 June (your telno 888), if the Chinese side are still

dragging their feet, eg on the through train. We doubt that

there will be a better opportunity for Ministerial' discussion

this side of the summer break. If OPD (K) did conclude that we

should make a conditional offer, eg on the Election Committee, a

short visit by the Secretary of State to Peking on 9 July could

be well-timed. It would enable the him to launch this new phase

without becoming enmeshed in detailed negotiations and to signal

to the Chinese side before a summer break that we were serious

about making progress, and willing to make changes to your

proposals in the context of an acceptable overall settlement.

5. We would need to review this gameplan after the Fifth Round

and before raising the question of a visit by the Secretary of

State to Peking with the Chinese side. But it would be useful to

know at this stage whether you or Sir R McLaren agree:

That we

we should now firmly pin-down 1 July for a meeting

of OPD(K), that you and Sir R McLaren would both plan to

return