CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE PEKING
TELNO 259
OF 301735Z MARCH 89
CONFIDENTIAL
HKB 011/3
YOUR TELNO 505 : FAC ENQUIRY INTO HONG KONG
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DHOAN 8233
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1 ALL THE FAC'S MEETINGS IN PEKING WILL BE HELD IN AN INFORMAL SETTING AND ON AN UNATTRIBUTABLE AND OFF-THE-RECORD BASIS. BRIEF
NOTES WILL BE TAKEN BY THE CLERK TO THE COMMITTEE BUT NO OFFICIAL
STENOGRAPHER WILL BE PRESENT. THE CLERK'S NOTES MAY BE DRAWN ON
IN PREPARING THE COMMITTEE'S REPORT BUT NONE OF THE CONTENT
WILL BE ATTRIBUTABLE. WE HOPE THE CHINESE WILL FIND THIS FORMAT
ACCEPTABLE
2. WE UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCERN TO ALLAY ANY CHINESE SUSPICION THAT THE FAC VISIT IS GOVERNMENT-INSPIRED. BUT THIS
CONSIDERATION NEEDS TO BE OFFSET AGAINST THE DESIRABILITY OF
BEING ABLE TO FORM OUR OWN ASSESSMENT OF THE OUTCOME OF THE COMMITTEE'S DISCUSSIONS RATHER THAN HAVING TO RELY ON A READ OUT
FROM THE CLERKS. WE ALSO SUSPECT THAT THE CHINESE WOULD FIND IT
ODD IF NO ONE FROM THE EMBASSY ATTENDED CALLS AND SOCIAL EVENTS ORGANISED FOR THE COMMITTEE, WHICH AFTER ALL INCLUDES A NUMBER OF DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS AND FORMER GOVERNMENT MINISTERS. AN
ATTEMPT TO DISTANCE OURSELVES IN THIS WAY MIGHT LOOK AS IF THE EMBASSY WAS DELIBERATELY BOYCOTTING THE COMMITTEE'S VISIT. 3. WE DOUBT WHETHER THE ABSENCE OF MEMBERS OF THE EMBASSY
WOULD IN ITSELF MATERIALLY ALTER CHINESE PERCEPTIONS OF THE FAC'S RELATIONSHIP WITH HMG. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE AMBASSADOR'S PRESENCE AT CALLS ON CHINESE MINISTERS AND OTHER HIGH-LEVEL FUNCTIONS ORGANISED FOR THE COMMITTEE WOULD PROVIDE FURTHER USEFUL OPPORTUNITIES FOR HIM TO EMPHASISE THAT THE COMMITTEE NOT AN INSTRUMENT OF HMG, A POINT WHICH THE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN WOULD READILY ENDORSE.
4.
IS
WE CANNOT CONSULT THE COMMITTEE CLERKS ABOUT THEIR CONTACTS WITH THE CHINESE EMBASSY UNTIL THEY RETURN FROM THEIR EASTER BREAK ON 3 APRIL.
HOWE
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CONFIDENTIAL