CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 24130OZ FCO
TELNO 1698
OF 241135Z MAY 89
CONFIDENTIAL
124055
MDHIAN 6213
HKB 020/14
24:14M
INFO DESKBY 250001 PEKING
INFO IMMEDIATE SEOUL, ΤΟΚΥΟ
etwili
PERSONAL FOR PAUL, HKD FROM GOVERNOR
SEOUL PLEASE PASS TO PS/LORD GLENARTHUR
TOKYO PLEASE PASS TO PUS, VISITING
TOP COPY
CHINA INTERNAL SITUATION: PM'S QUESTION TIME
1. AS SEEN FROM HERE THERE WOULD BE GREAT ADVANTAGE IF THE
PRIME MINISTER COULD MAKE A BRIEF STATEMENT ON HMG'S ATTITUDE TO
CURRENT EVENTS IN CHINA. THERE IS CONSIDERABLE PRIVATE CRITICISM
HERE OF THE ABSENCE OF COMMENT BY HMG DESPITE THE POTENTIAL EFFECT
OF RECENT EVENTS ON HONG KONG. THIS IS CONTRASTED TO QUITE BOLD
STATEMENTS FROM EG THE UNITED STATES.
2. AN IDEAL OPPORTUNITY FOR A PRIME MINISTERIAL STATEMENT WOULD APPEAR TO BE AT QUESTION TIME TOMORROW 25 MAY). THE PURPOSE WOULD BE TO GET ACROSS TWO MESSAGES: THAT HMG HAS TAKEN ON BOARD
THE SIGNIFICANCE FOR HONG KONG OF DEVELOPMENTS IN CHINA
AND THE INTENSITY OF LOCAL FEELING ABOUT THEM: AND AN
ASSURANCE THAT HMG ARE DETERMINED TO ENSURE THE PRESERVATION OF THE FREEDOMS WHICH HONG KONG ENJOYS AND WHICH SEEM TO HAVE BEEN UNDER THREAT IN PEKING. A SECONDARY MESSAGE WOULD BE TO FOCUS
ATTENTION ON THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING THE BASIC LAW RIGHT.
2. SUBJECT THEREFORE TO YOUR AND PEKING'S VIEWS ON THIS
PROPOSAL I RECOMMEND THAT THE PM MIGHT REPLY TO A SUITABLE
QUESTION USING THE FOLLOWING BROAD LINES:
I) HOPE FOR A MODERATE AND PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF CURRENT SITUATION:
II) UNDERSTANDABLE THAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG FEEL GREAT CONCERN AT EVENTS IN CHINA:
III)
UNDERSTAND FULLY THE CRUCIAL IMPORTANCE THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ATTACH TO THE FREEDOMS WHICH THEY CURRENTLY ENJOY, AND PARTICULARLY THE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION WHICH THEY EXERCISED VERY
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