CONFIDENTIAL
285
152032
MDHIAN 0695
CONFIDENTIAL
FM PEKING
TO IMMEDIATE F C O
TELNO 626
OF 140435Z APRIL 89
HKB 011/3
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
(276
YOUR TELNO 317. FA C VISIT.
1.
21510
d
DOL
I TOOK ADVANTAGE OF A CALL ON THE HEAD OF WEST EUROPEAN DEPARTMENT AT THE MFA ON OTHER BUSINESS ON 13 APRIL TO EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITY OF A CALL BY THE F A C ON THE CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER. THE IDEA WAS RECEIVED WITH A CERTAIN DIFFIDENCE. JIANG REMINDED ME THAT MATTERS SUCH AS THE BASIC LAW FOR HONG KONG WERE ENTIRELY WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF CHINA AND THE N P C, ALTHOUGH OF COURSE THE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT WERE WELCOME GUESTS IN CHINA. HOWEVER, I WOULD HAVE NOTICED THAT THE HOSTS, THE PEOPLE'S INSTITUTE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, HAD BEEN CAREFULLY CHOSEN AND THAT THE BRITISH MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT WERE ALREADY SCHEDULED TO MEET SOMEONE OF MINISTERIAL RANK. JIANG EXPLAINED THAT THE CHAIRMAN OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE N P C WAS THE SAME RANK AS PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC AND AT THE TOP LEVEL OF PROTOCOL AND A VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE WAS THE EQUIVALENT RANK TO CHINESE MINISTERS. THIS WAS QUITE DIFFERENT FROM THE BRITISH PRACTICE IN RESPECT OF THE SPEAKER AND DEPUTY SPEAKER OF
THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.
2. JIANG'S ADVICE WAS THAT IF THE COMMITTEE WISHED TO INCLUDE THE FOREIGN MINISTER AMONGST THOSE THEY WOULD LIKE TO MEET THEY SHOULD DO SO THROUGH THE GOOD OFFICES OF PIFA. PERHAPS THIS REPLY COULD BE CONVEYED TO THE COMMITTEE CLERKS NOW IN HONG KONG ? THEY MAY FIND IT MORE CONVENIENT TO WAIT UNTIL THEY COME TO CHINA TO PURSUE THE MATTER WITH THEIR HOSTS. I DOUBT THE WISDOM OF THIS EMBASSY MAKING A FURTHER APPROACH IN THE LIGHT OF THE MFA'S RESPONSE.
3. YOUR TELNO 321 (NOT TO HONG KONG): I SHALL BE HAPPY TO THE AIRPORT.
GO TO
DONALD.
YYYY
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