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p.a. Cons
150166
MDHOAN 6437
(Apepts & ERCO)
(60
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 1003
OF 251829Z JUNE 92
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG INFO IMMEDIATE BTC HONG KONG
PEKING TELNO 915: COMMENTS BY MFA SPOKESMAN
1.
WE ARE STRUCK BY THE MFA SPOKESMAN'S COMMENT THAT QUOTE BOTH SIDES WERE CONDUCTING DISCUSSIONS ABOUT APPOINTMENTS TO EXCO UNQUOTE. THIS FOLLOWS THE CLAIM IN THE WEN WEI PO THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAD SAID THAT BRITAIN WOULD CONSULT CHINA ON APPOINTMENT S TO EXCO. CHONG KONG TELNO 1714). IT SEEMS THAT THE CHINESE ARE INTENT ON CREATING THE IMPRESSION THAT WE ARE NEGOTIATING WITH THEM ON THIS ISSUE. WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO WISH TO STIR UP ANY FURTHER MEGAPHONE DIPLOMACY WITH CHINA. BUT EQUALLY WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LEAVE THE IMPRESSION PUBLICY THAT WE ARE DISCUSSING THE SUBSTANCE OF EXCO APPOINTMENTS. WE SUGGEST THAT IF WE OR YOU ARE ASKED ABOUT THESE COMMENTS, SPOKESMEN SHOULD SAY THAT THE EXTENT OF OUR DISCUSSION WITH THE CHINESE ON THE SUBJECT HAS BEEN TO MAKE CLEAR TO THEM THAT APPOINTMENTS TO EXCO ARE A MATTER SOLELY FOR THE GOVERNOR AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE. 2. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD SEND US TEXTS OF ANY REPORTS OF THE MFA SPOKESMAN'S COMMENTS, PARTICULARLY IN WEN WEI PAO AND TA KUNG PAO. PLEASE ALSO FAX THE CHINESE TEXTS.
HURD
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
55
.HONG KONG AGREEMENT
.(RESTRICTED)
HKD
PUSD
FED//HD
LEGAL ADVISERS//MS BARRETT
DISTRIBUTION
56
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CONFIDENTIAL
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