TNAG-2991-FCO40-3566-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-1992 — Page 97

CONFIDENTIAL

pa

What's o12/2

Constit. Berpt

063044

MDHOAN 5343

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO DESKBY 040030Z HONG KONG

TELNO 904

OF 02160OZ JUNE 92

AND TO DESKBY 04003OZ UKREP JLG HONG KONG, PEKING

не

PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM RICKETTS, HKD

PRIME MINISTER'S BILATERAL WITH LI PENG: BRIEFING

1.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE CALLED A MEETING THIS MORNING TO CONSIDER THE LINE TO TAKE IN BRIEFING THE PRIME MINISTER FOR HIS BILATERAL WITH LI PENG ON 12 JUNE.

2. ON AIRPORT FINANCING, THE SECRETARY OF STATE AGREED WITH THE GENERAL APPROACH SET OUT IN YOUR TELNO 1462: IE THAT YOU SHOULD TAKE UP THE MATTER IN PEKING AS SUBSTANTIVELY AS THE CHINESE WILL PERMIT, WITH A VIEW TO REACHING AN AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE, AND THAT THE PRIME MINISTER SHOULD ALSO BE READY TO PURSUE THE ISSUE IF NECESSARY AT A POLITICAL LEVEL WITH LI PENG.

3

ON THE CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES, THE SECRETARY OF STATE AGREED THAT THE PRIME MINISTER SHOULD AIM TO REASSURE LI PENG ABOUT CONTINUITY IN THE BRITISH APPROACH TO COOPERATION WITH CHINA ON THE BASIS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION, BUT WITHOUT LEAVING THE IMPRESSION THAT THERE WOULD BE NO CHANGES OF ANY KIND AFTER MR PATTEN'S ARRIVAL.

4 -

I AM FAXING OVERNIGHT TO ALL ADDRESSEES OUR DRAFT CONTRIBUTION TO A BRIEFING LETTER, WHICH INCORPORATES THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S POINTS. GRATEFUL FOR ANY ESSENTIAL AMENDMENTS DD0409OOZ. THE LETTER WILL MAKE CLEAR THAT THE BRIEFING WILL NEED TO BE UPDATED IN THE LIGHT OF YOUR TALKS IN PEKING.

5. I HAVE BEEN ASKED TO GO TO RIO TO ATTEND THE PRIME MINISTER'S BILATERAL WITH LI PENG, AND WILL THEREFORE BE ON HAND TO RECEIVE ANY LAST MINUTE AMENDMENTS TO THE BRIEF.

WE ARE NOW SEEKING THE PRIME MINISTER'S AGREEMENT TO THE LINE FOR YOU TO TAKE IN PEKING ON AIRPORT FINANCING AND ON

6.

1

PAGE

CONFIDENTIAL