DJ Gowan Esq Cabinet Office 70 Whitehall
LONDON
SW1A 2AS
SECRET
File
13
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London SW1A 2AH
3 July 1990
нквого /16
RECEIVED I
11 JUL 90
Dear David;
CONTINGENCY PLANNING FOR HONG KONG
1.
يا
Thank you for your letter of 26 June attaching a first draft of the note commissioned by the last meeting of- MISC 140. I have also seen your letter of 25 June to Rosalind Marsden.
2.
With reference to paragraph 12 of the draft, you ask whether it could be argued that temporary Chinese moves to stem emigration to the UK might be in our interests. I think not. Freedom of movement is guaranteed under the Joint Declaration, and if there was any danger that the Chinese might infringe, even temporarily, this fundamental right, we would be bound to react. A denial of freedom of movement would be seen in Hong Kong and elsewhere, rightly in my view, as marking a complete breakdown of the arrangements for Hong Kong provided under the Joint Declaration. It would lead to an irrevocable loss of any remaining faith in the Agreement. It would confront us with a confidence problem of unprecedented proportions. In the international context, such a public abrogation of its responsibilities under the Joint Declaration on the part of the Chinese Government would highten international concern about the problem, thereby increasing pressure on us to do something to alleviate it. sum, I can see no circumstances in which even temporary Chinese moves to stem emigration would serve our interests.
3. Secondly, you ask for advice and comments on how the political climate in Hong Kong might be assessed. I do see a clear case for supplementing at some point closer to 1997 the political reporting provided at present by the Governor. This is already beginning to happen. From time to time, and on a personal and informal basis, the Senior Representative to the Joint Liaison Group, Mr Galsworthy, sends us comment on subjects of current political interest, copying to the Governor (again on a personal basis). This arrangement works well, and I would expect it to continue to evolve. But I do not believe that it would be right, or indeed acceptable to
In
CC7ABH
SECRET
·