TNAG-2892-FCO40-4165-Transfer-of-assets-from-the-Hong-Kong-Government-to-the-Spec-1993 — Page 11

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Reference.

6. I do not think we are likely to get very far in probing Chinese thinking over when they propose to establish the SARG. There is now the Preparatory Working Group for the SAR Preparatory Committee intended to focus in part on matters of this nature. But it has yet to start functioning and we are unlikely to get much specific out of it just yet in the way of Chinese thinking. I do agree that it is an issue on which we should be getting them to see the necessity for a swift establishment of the SAR, and that this message should reach them from as many quarters as possible. They would then, we hope, see it as in their interest to move quickly in this respect, which might make the kind of arguments that we are going to put over the transfer of assets more acceptable.

RF Wye

Far Eastern Section Research & Analysis Dept OAB 2/125 210 6219/6216

19 July 1993

cc Ms Brooks Legal Counsellor

CONFIDENTIAL