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Private Secretary
From: PS/Mr Maude
Date: 7 September 1989
cc: Mr Gillmore
Mr McLaren
Miss Marsden, HKD
Mr Colvin, SEAD Mr Millington, FED News Dept
PRU
Mr Fraser
CALL ON MR MAUDE BY GEORGE FOULKES MP
1.
Mr Foulkes called at his request on Mr Maude this afternoon to raise the 48 Group mission to China and Vietnamese Boat People. He gave advance notice of his concerns to the Guardian (cutting attached).
48 Group mission to China
2.
Mr Foulkes said that Mr Eggar had promised in July to review DTI support for the 48 Group visit. His impression was that the Group planned to keep their heads down, hoping that the events of 3/4 June would be forgotten. His own view was that the Chinese government had gone on to the offensive in justifying what happened in Tiananmen Square, and the repression had continued. The Government should therefore take a strong line. This meant the DTI not supporting the mission.
3.
Mr Maude said that the Government had taken a strong line on Chinese repression, and would continue to do so. But he had always argued that, because of Hong Kong, we had to start talking to the Chinese government again. Mr Foulkes said that the Labour Party accepted this. Mr Maude also said that there were important British business interests in China, on which UK jobs depended. It was right therefore that the mission should go ahead. But its nature had changed; it would not have a high profile leader, and would not visit Peking. The Chinese would notice that signal.
4.
Mr Foulkes again argued that there was no need for the DTI to sponsor the Group. It would certainly be used for propaganda purposes by the Chinese government. Mr Maude
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