TNAG-2815-FCO40-4061-Future-of-Hong-Kong-International-Rights-and-Obligations-(IR-1993 — Page 212

RESTRICTED

し

fr

RESTRICTED

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 1324

OF 13100OZ AUGUST 93

MKC 031/10

L

2. AUG 1993

AND TO IMMEDIATE HM TREASURY, BANK OF ENGLAND, ODA, AND TO IMMEDIATE UKDEL IMF/IBRD WASHINGTON, PEKING, AND TO IMMEDIATE UKREP JLG HONG KONG

35

153315

MDHIAN 1875

1997 WORLD BANK/IMF ANNUAL MEETINGS: UKDEL IMF/IBRD TELNO 273 OF 10 AUGUST 1993.

1. WE HAVE COMMENTS ON TWO OF THE OUTSTANDING MATTERS REPORTED IN

TUR:

2.

(A) DATES OF THE MEETINGS IT WOULD CERTAINLY BE MOST HELPFUL IF THE MEETINGS COULD BE MOVED FORWARD, EVEN IF BY ONLY A WEEK. HOWEVER, AS WE SAID BEFORE, THE DATES OF THE MEETINGS ARE NOT A STICKING POINT FOR US: AND

(B)

ASSURANCE ON AGREED CONTRIBUTION

G

WE HAVE NO PROBLEM

PROVIDING THE NECESSARY ASSURANCE BY BEING A SIGNATORY TO THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE BANK/FUND, WHICH IS IN FACT WHAT WE HAD IN MIND ALL ALONG.

ON THE ISSUANCE OF INVITATION LETTERS, WE DO FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT THE LATEST CHINESE SUGGESTION THAT THERE IS NO NEED FOR THE

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO SEND A SEPARATE SUPPORTING LETTER. WE HAVE DIFFICULTY WITH THEIR GOING BACK ON THEIR EARLIER AGREEMENT. IN LIGHT

OF THE VERY SUBSTANTIAL FINANCIAL AND MANPOWER RESOURCES THAT HONG KONG WOULD HAVE TO DEVOTE TO THE MEETINGS, WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT PROPER RECOGNITION IS GIVEN TO HONG KONG AS THE HOST CITY AND TO

FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC AUTONOMY THAT THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION ENJOYS. AS THE LETTERS FROM THE RELEVANT GOVERNMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE INVITATION WILL BE FORMAL DOCUMENTS ON PUBLIC RECORD, HONG KONG'S SEPARATE SUPPORTING LETTER HAS SIGNIFICANT PRESENTATIONAL IMPORTANCE. WE THEREFORE CONSIDER THAT THIS MATTER SHOULD BE PURSUED VIGOROUSLY WITH THE CHINESE BILATERALLY AS SUGGESTED IN PARA 5 OF TUR.

FORD