Mr Hervey
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2 3 OCT 1987
China Parking
The Secretary of State will see the Chinese Ambassador this evening, and intends to mention the parking problem to him in general terms. He will explain why we have adopted a clear and consistent approach to this problem, and urge the Chinese Ambassador (as a new arrival) to take a fresh look at his Embassy's record and take steps to improve it.
As background for this, the Secretary of State has seen earlier minuting, including Mr Makepeace's minute to Mr Cooper of 12 October. The Secretary of State understands why you and Mr Eggar have taken the view that a tough message and an immediate threat are needed. But he strongly agrees with Mr McLaren that we cannot treat China as if it were eg Bulgaria. Nor does he think it sensible to make a threat which in the end we might not wish to carry out. He hopes therefore that when you tackle the Chinese Ambassador on this specific point, you will use a scalpel rather than a sledge-hammer. particular, he does not think that it would be right for
you now to threaten withdrawal, and he would want to be consulted again before we go to that stage of escalation.
On a point of detail, is it strictly true that we have applied our policy on parking with equal severity to all countries, without exception?
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20 October 1987
(R N Culshaw)
cc: PS/Mr Eggar Mr Gillmore
Mr McLaren
Protocol Dept
HKD
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