RESTRICTED
030167
MDLIAN 3709
RESTRICTED
FM CANBERRA
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 216
OF 06060OZ MARCH 90
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG, BTC HONG KONG, PEKING, TOKYO, OTTAWA INFO PRIORITY SINGAPORE, EC POSTS, UKREP BRUSSELS, JLG HONG KONG
YOUR TELNO 32 TO BTC HONG KONG: INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR HONG KONG
1. SEVERAL AUSTRALIAN PAPERS RE RAN THE DAILY MAIL ARTICLE, BUT NONE OF THEM PROMINENTLY. DFAT HAVE TOLD US THAT ALTHOUGH THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE CAUSED A FLUURY FOR THEM OVER THE WEEKEND, THEY HAVE NOW RELAXED AGAIN AND ACCEPT THAT WE WERE NOT TRYING TO BOUNCE THEM. THEIR ONLY CONCERN WAS THAT HMG'S COMMENT ON THE ARTICLE BEING SOMEWHAT PREMATURE' COULD HAVE BEEN PHRASED
MORE ROBUSTLY.
2. ON THE SUBSTANCE, DFAT CONFIRMED THAT INTER-DEPARTMENTAL CONSULTATIONS ARE IN PROGRESS, BUT WARNED THAT WE COULD NOT EXPECT ANY EARLY REACTION TO MY APPROACH. THIS WAS NOT SIMPLY DUE TO MINISTERS CONCENTRATING ON THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN (POLLING IS ON 24 MARCH), BUT IS ALSO DUE TO THE FACT THAT A MAJOR REVIEW OF POLICY TOWARDS HONG KONG AND CHINA IS IN PREPARATION FOR CABINET, AND IMMIGRATION POLICY TOWARDS THE AREA WILL BE AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF IT. THEY COULD NOT PREDICT WHEN THE REVIEW WOULD BE COMPLETE, LET ALONE WHEN OR HOW FUTURE MINISTERS WOULD REACT
TO IT.
COLES
YYYY
MAIN
.HK AGREEMENT
69
DISTRIBUTION
79
PS/MR MAUDE
PS/LORD BRABAZON
PS/PUS
MR P J WESTON
MR GILLMORE
LIMITED
HKD
HD/FED
HD/PLANNERS
PAGE
1
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