CONFIDENTIAL
(197
054440
MDHOAN 7605
HKB 011/3
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO DESKBY 21010OZ HONG KONG
TELNO 703
OF 201745Z MARCH 89
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
195
YOUR TELNO 955: FAC: LINE OF QUESTIONING FOR SECRETARY OF STATE'S
APPEARANCE ON 22 MARCH.
1.
PARA 1 OF TUR: WE DO NOT (NOT) THINK WE CAN ADOPT THE LINE YOU SUGGEST. IF THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS QUESTIONED ON THE LINES INDICATED HE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DUCK THE QUESTIONS. THE POINTS MADE IN THE SECOND AND THIRD TIRETS OF THIS QUESTION ARE CLEAR AND PERCEPTIVE. TO DUCK THEM WOULD NOT (NOT) BE WELL RECEIVED BY THE FAC OR, WE THINK, IN HONG KONG. WE HAVE PREPARED AN INITIAL DRAFT MIFT), BUT DO NEED INPUT AND COMMENTS FROM YOU.
2.
PARA 2 OF TUR: WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE SUGGESTED LINE TO TAKE. WE WILL INCLUDE THIS IN OUR BRIEFING, BUT WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR SOME FURTHER SUGGESTED LINES ON:
(A) WHAT SORT OF ACTION HAVE THE CHINESE TAKEN TO SEEK TO INFLUENCE CERTAIN SECTORS IN HONG KONG? WHAT ARE THE MAIN SECTORS INVOLVED?
(SEE
(B) HAVE THE CHINESE BEEN ACTIVE IN THE RECENT MUNICIPAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS AND THE DB ELECTIONS LAST YEAR? WILL THEY BE ACTIVE IN THE 1991 LEGCO ELECTIONS?
3. WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR ANY COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS ON THE ABOVE AND ON MIFT DESKBY 21083OZ: THIS IS A REAL DESKBY REQUIREMENT AS WE MUST SUBMIT ON THIS ON TUESDAY.
HOWE
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
32
LIMITED
HKD
FED
PRU
DISTRIBUTION
34
PAGE
PS/MRS CHALKER
PS/LORD GLENARTHUR
PS/PUS
MR GILLMORE
1
CONFIDENTIAL
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