CONFIDENTIAL
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London SW1A 2AH
Myland
f.i.
NEGE
12 MAR 1898
Offic
Dean Charles,
aur
*A TUNATE
8 March 1990
Mizo Marsden
Wal
√9/3
Call on the Prime Minister by the Chinese Ambassador
Thank you for your letter of 2 March about the Prime Minister's meeting with Dame Lydia Dunn.
You referred to the Prime Minister's wish to invite the The Chinese Ambassador in for a talk in the next few weeks. Foreign Secretary is in favour of the idea. It would be a good opportunity to underline to the Chinese Government the need for They should, Chinese help in promoting confidence in Hong Kong. in particular, desist from adverse public comment on our nationality package; support the Port and Airport Development Strategy; and help to prevent Vietnamese boat people transitting China en route to Hong Kong.
Although the Twelve's suspension of normal ministerial contacts with China remains in force, the Foreign Secretary agrees that it would be useful if British ministerial visits to China were to resume fairly soon, but probably not before the first anniversary of the events leading up to 4 June. Partners have shown Mr Maude might visit Peking in July. understanding of our need to maintain ministerial contact with China because of Hong Kong.
Lord Young is planning to visit China (and Hong Kong) from 25-28 March and we intend to brief him to put across the
He will be same general message as in paragraph 2 above.
well placed to explain to the Chinese the international character of Hong Kong, and to discourage them from attacking our "internationalisation" of the problem.
зам
frethe wall
(J S Wall)
Private Secretary
C D Powell Esq
10 Downing Street
CONFIDENTIAL
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