TNAG-2879-FCO40-4151-Agreements-between-the-Hong-Kong-Special-Administrative-Regi-1993 — Page 163

CONFIDENTIAL

4. I should be grateful for your views, in consultation with over Whitehall Departments as you feel appropriate, on the following points.

i) Whether you think there is a need for a UK/Hong Kong VAA after 1997.

ii) Whether you think there will be any major difficulties in negotiating on the basis of the Hong Kong model treaty, and what changes if any you would wish to see (bearing in mind that each change away from the model text will make it harder to secure Chinese agreement, although it may be possible to borrow language from previous HK agreements already agreed by the Chinese).

iii) Whether you think there will be any transitional difficulties concerning the transfer of sovereignty in respect of Hong Kong to China, with regard to visa arrangements, and whether you think there are any other steps we might undertake to overcome them.

iv) Whether you are content with the proposal that there should be negotiations with Hong Kong this September. We hope that your department, or other relevant Whitehall departments, will agree to be represented on the UK negotiating team, to be led by an FCO Legal Adviser, for the relevant part of the talks.

5. If you have any further questions please contact Rod Bunten of this department on 270-2655.

водовим

PF Ricketts

CONFIDENTIAL