CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 456
OF 230532Z MARCH 93
HICC 040!...
REGISTRY 7003
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
За
103706
MDHIAN 4476
Lur COPY
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buol
·
BOUNDARIES
SUMMARY
1. WE SHOULD LIKE TO HOLD ANOTHER ROUND OF BOUNDARIES TALKS IN MID-APRIL AND WILL BE WRITING SOON TO GUANGDONG TO PROPOSE DATES. AT THE NEXT ROUND (COVERING THE TWO BAYS AND THE SEA BOUNDARY) AND ALSO TO REACH AGREEMENT, IF POSSIBLE, ON THE LAND BOUNDARY. WE SHOULD LIKE TO SEEK YOUR VIEWS ON THE POSSIBLE WAYS IN WHICH ANY AGREEMENT MIGHT EVENTUALLY BE RECORDED.
DETAIL
LAND BOUNDARY
2. THE GUANGDONG SIDE HAVE AGREED THAT THE LAND BOUNDARY IN THE WESTERN SECTOR SHOULD FOLLOW THE LINE OF THE SHENZHEN RIVER EVEN IF IT IS REALIGNED, WHICH WAS PREVIOUSLY A MAJOR STICKING POINT. IN THE EASTERN SECTOR, THEIR PROPOSAL IN SHATAUKOK TOWN IS ACCEPTABLE AS ONLY VERY MINOR CHANGES TO THE EXISTING BOUNDARY WOULD BE INVOLVED. THE OUTSTANDING PROBLEM IS THE GUANGDONG PROPOSALS FOR THE INTERNATIONAL PATH SECTOR. WHILE THIS MAKES GOOD SENSE GEOGRAPHICALLY, IT WOULD GIVE RISE TO ADMINISTRATIVE AND LEGAL DIFFICULTIES AS 12HA OF OUR LAND INCLUDING 3HA IN PRIVATE HANDS WOULD END UP NORTH OF THE NEW BOUNDARY. WE ARE SEEKING LEGAL ADVICE ON WHETHER RESUMPTION OF THE PRIVATE LAND COULD BE JUSTIFIED ON PUBLIC PURPOSE GROUNDS. HOWEVER, EVEN IF RESUMPTION IS LEGALLY POSSIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE TO EXCO IT WILL TAKE TIME. GIVEN THESE COMPLICATIONS, WE WILL ARGUE FOR RETAINING THE STATUS QUO ALONG THE INTERNATIONAL PATH. THE EXISTING BOUNDARY THERE IS WORKING WELL AND THE LAND FALLING BETWEEN BETWEEN THE EXISTING LINE AND THE CHINESE PROPOSAL IS OF LITTLE OPERATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE OR DEVELOPMENT VALUE. WE HOPE THEREFORE THAT THE CHINESE MAY BE PERSUADED TO DROP THEIR PROPOSAL: THOUGH WE REALISE WE MAY HAVE TO RETURN TO EXCO ON THIS FOR FURTHER
INSTRUCTIONS.
JOINT SURVEY
3. IF WE CAN REACH AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE ON A LINE, WE WILL ALSO
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