CONFIDENTIAL
FM LUSAKA
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
TELNO 002
OF 26063OZ JULY 90
INFO ROUTINE FCO, PEKING
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002407 MDLIAN 8615
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YOUR TELNO 1: VISIT TO HONG KONG BY ZAMBIAN PRIME MINISTER
1. THE PRIME MINISTER IS LEADING A ZAMBIAN DELEGATION TO CHINA, INCLUDING THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND SOME SENIOR OFFICIALS, BOTH GOVERNMENT AND PARASTATAL WITH PRIMARILY ECONOMIC INTERESTS. WE
UNDERSTAND FROM THE CHINESE EMBASSY HERE THAT THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE
VISIT IS TO DISCUSS ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND COMMERCIAL JOINT VENTURES (INCLUDING CHINESE PARTICIPATION IN AN OIL-SEED REFINERY AND
CLOTHING FACTORIES).
2. THERE HAVE BEEN LINKS BETWEEN ZAMBIA AND CHINA OVER A NUMBER OF
YEARS, THE MOST SPECTACULAR EXAMPLE OF WHICH WAS THE CHINESE INVOLVEMENT IN BUILDING THE TAZARA RAILWAY LINKING DAR ES SALAAM WITH LUSAKA (THIS WAS TO PROVIDE AN OUTLET TO THE SEA FOR ZAMBIA DURING
THE TIME OF RHODESIAN UDI AND THE SUBSEQUENT INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONS AGAINST THAT COUNTRY). AFTER THE RUN-DOWN OF THE RAILWAY IN THE EARLY 1980S, CHINESE EXPERTS (SOME 300 WE BELIEVE) HAVE BEEN INVITED BACK TO IMPROVE MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE.
3. THE PRIME MINISTER, GENERAL MASHEKE, IS NOT AN IMPRESSIVE MAN AND OWES HIS POSITION TO HIS PERCEIVED LOYALTY TO KAUNDA AND THE FACT
THAT HE POSES NO THREAT TO THE PRESIDENT. HE IS A FORMER COMMANDER OF
THE ARMY AND MINISTER OF DEFENCE. HE DID THE SANDHURST COURSE IN 1964/66 AND HAS ATTENDED STAFF AND OTHER COURSES AT HYTHE AND WARMINSTER. ALTHOUGH SOMETHING OF A FIREBRAND AT SANDHURST AND SAID TO BE A POOR STUDENT, HE NOW SPEAKS WARMLY OF HIS EXPERIENCE WITH THE BRITISH MILITARY. HE WAS NOT A POPULAR ARMY COMMANDER AND MINISTER OF DEFENCE, POSSIBLY BECAUSE OF HIS PREVIOUS JOB AS HEAD OF ZAMBIAN MILITARY
INTELLINGENCE.
4. I DO NOT SUGGEST THAT YOU SPEND TOO MUCH TIME ON YOUR FLIGHT BACK TALKING TO MASHEKE (HE IS NOT THE MOST STIMULATING OF COMPANIONS), BUT IF YOU DO GET A CHANCE FOR A FEW WORDS, YOU MAY CARE TO EXPRESS INTEREST IN ZAMBIA'S STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT PROGRAMME, WHICH IS SELF-IMPOSED HARSH MEDICINE SUPPORTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND THE DONOR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE PLEDGED #30 MILLION
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