CONFIDENTIAL
405
MDHIAN 9494
BRITISH CORRESPONDENTS' REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. I DID NOT MYSELF SAY
THAT THE TWO SIDES DID NOT HOLD THE SAME VIEWS ON THE THREE COMPLIANCES OR THAT WE WERE INSISTING ON THE GOVERNOR'S POSITION AS THE STARTING POINT FOR THE TALKS. I DID TELL THE BRITISH GROUP, IN ANSWER TO A QUESTION, THAT IN FORM THE CURRENT TALKS WERE MORE LIKE THE JD NEGOTIATIONS THAN THE AIRPORT TALKS IN THAT WE HAD ONLY
MORNING SESSIONS WITH THE AFTERNOONS TO REPORT AND REFLECT.
6. THE CHINESE BRIEFING WAS EVIDENTLY WELL-PREPARED AND MUCH MORE
DETAILED THAN ANY OF THE COMMENTS ATTRIBUTED TO BRITISH SOURCES. ON PAST FORM WE WOULD HAVE EXPECTED THEM TO CARRY OUT THEIR OWN BRIEFING DURING THE LONG GAP BETWEEN THE SECOND AND THIRD ROUNDS BUT IT IS ANNOYING THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO USE THE HOOK OF A REPORTED BRITISH BRIEFING TO JUSTIFY THEIR REVELATIONS. I AGREE THAT WE SHOULD DECLINE TO COMMENT IN RESPONSE TO ANY FURTHER PRESS ENQUIRIES. I SHALL CERTAINLY DO SO, BUT THE HONG KONG` JOURNALISTS BADGERING ME TODAY (4 MAY) ARE MUCH MORE INTERESTED IN TRYING TO EXTRACT QUOTABLE COMMENTS ON PRESIDENT CLINTON'S REMARKS AFTER SEEING THE GOVERNOR. I HAVE DECLINED TO COMPLY.
MCLAREN
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
65
DISTRIBUTION
72
.HK POLICY
HKD
PUSD
FED
LEGAL ADVISERS//MS BARRETT
LEGAL ADVISERS//MISS BROOKS
LEGAL ADVISERS//MR GILES NEWS D
NTCD
PLANNERS
RAD
PS
PS/MR GOODLAD
SIR J COLES
MR HUM
ADDITIONAL
7
CAOFF//SIR R BRAITHWAITE (DIO) CAOFF//MISS NEVILLE-JONES
CAOFF //MR SIBSON
PS NO 10.
Naenea
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CONFIDENTIAL
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