SECRET
HKB 012/3
SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 714
OF 100756Z MAY 93
ASTRY
MAY 1993
PA
REGISTRY Acton Texas
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
p.a. Leglo (50
0424/3 0424 MDHIAN Q298
COX'S LETTER OF 7 MAY TO LAI: TALKS WITH THE CHINESE ON ELECTORAL
ARRANGEMENTS
1.
YOUR MESSAGE TO QIAN QICHEN HAS MADE CLEAR THAT WE WILL NOT HAVE ANYTHING MORE TO SAY ON PRINCIPLES AT THE NEXT ROUND OF TALKS. IT WILL BE IMPORTANT TO STICK TO THAT POSITION, BUT THIS LEAVES THE QUESTION OF WHAT WE SHOULD TRY TO DO AT THE NEXT ROUND.
2. I AGREE WITH THE THOUGHT IN COX'S LETTER THAT WE SHOULD PREPARE PROBING QUESTIONS ON MATTERS LIKE THE ELECTION COMMITTEE. WE HAVE NOW SET THAT WORK IN HAND.
3. I WILL BE CONSIDERING THE QUESTION OF TIMING OF LEGISLATION AND WILL LET YOU HAVE MY THOUGHTS ON THAT LATER THIS WEEK. WE FACE SOME DIFFICULT CHOICES ON WHETHER, WHEN AND HOW TO DECOUPLE THE LEGISLATION FOR THE 1994 ELECTIONS FROM THE LEGISLATION FOR THE 1995 ELECTIONS. WE NEED TO DECIDE HOW TACTICALLY TO DEAL WITH THE CHINESE ON THIS ISSUE, E.G. WHETHER A MEETING BETWEEN YOU AND QIAN IN NEW YORK COULD BE USED TO DISCUSS IT. WE ALSO NEED TO CONSIDER WHAT OUR RESPONSE WOULD BE IF THE CHINESE WERE TO PROPOSE, WHEN THEY CONCLUDE THAT THEY HAVE GOT AS FAR AS THEY CAN GET ON PRINCIPLE, THAT DETAILED ARRANGEMENTS SHOULD BE DISCUSSED IN THE JLG (THIS POSSIBILITY HAS BEEN FLAGGED UP IN THE LATEST ISSUE OF WINDOW, T S LO'S MAGAZINE).
PATTEN
YYYY
PAGE 1 SECRET
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.