CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE WASHINGTON
TELNO 42
OF 09103OZ JAN 90
CONFIDENTIAL
HKB
012
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
24 JAN1990
DESK OFFICER
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INDEX
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AoDon t :
19a1.
AND TO IMMEDIATE TOKYO, CANBERRA
IIAWA
EC POSIS
INFO IMMEDIATE PEING, HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
176337
MDHOAN 0766
18
VISIT TO PEKING BY SIR P CRADOCK
1.
IN RESPONSE TO ANY ENQUIRIES FROM YOUR HOST GOVERNMENT ABOUT PRESS REPORTS THAT SIR P CRADOCK, THE PRIME MINISTER'S FOREIGN AFFAIRS ADVISER, PAID A SECRET VISIT TO PEKING BEFORE CHRISTMAS, YOU SHOULD DRAW ON THE FOLLOWING POINTS:-
(A) YOU CAN CONFIRM THAT SIR P CRADOCK VISITED PEKING
IN DECEMBER FOR DISCUSSIONS WITH SENIOR CHINESE GOVERNMENT AND PARTY OFFICIALS, CONCENTRATING ON HONG KONG ISSUES.
(B)
IN
SIR P CRADOCK'S VISIT SHOULD BE SEEN AS PART OF THE DIALOGUE BETWEEN BRITAIN AND CHINA AT VARIOUS LEVELS OVER HONG KONG. IT IS NATURAL FOR US TO MAINTAIN SUCH CONTACTS DESPITE THE DETERIORATION BILATERAL RELATIONS SINCE JUNE. THERE ARE IMPORTANT ISSUES RELATING TO OUR JOINT RESPONSIBILITY FOR HONG KONG WHICH REQUIRE
CONTINUING DISCUSSION. MR MAJOR, THE THEN FOREIGN SECRETARY, MET THE CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER IN PARIS IN AUGUST AND AGAIN IN NEW YORK IN SEPTEMBER.
(C) WE MADE NO ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THIS VISIT BECAUSE 1T
IS NOT OUR PRACTICE TO PUBLICISE VISITS BY OFFICIALS, AND BECAUSE DISCUSSIONS ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE FRUITFUL IF KEPT PRIVATE.
(0)
THE VISIT PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT TO THE CHINESE OUR VIEWS ON THE DRAFTING OF THE BASIC LAW, AND ON THE PACE OF DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT IN HONG KONG. SIR P CRADOCK ALSO REFERRED IN GENERAL TERMS TO THE MEASURES WE HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY ANNOUNCED TO GIVE RIGHT OF ABODE IN THE UK TO A LIMITED NUMBER OF HONG KONG RESIDENTS. FOR THEIR
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