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CONFIDENTIAL
Has olill
RECEIVED
EGISTRY
27 APR 1990
FROM:
David Lidington
DATE:
7 March 1990
c.c.
Mr Gillmore
Mr McLaren
Mr Paul, HKD Mr Bates, PRU Mr Simon Hall
Mr Yeo MP
Mr Fraser
DESK OFFICEF.
PA
Private SecretaryNDEX
REGISTRY
Action Taken
FOREIGN SECRETARY'S MEETING WITH MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS SELECT COMMITTEE ON FORETGN
TUESDAY 6 MARCH 1990
1. The meeting covered Eastern Europe and Germany, the European Community, Hong Kong and South Africa.
2. Michael Jopling MP made a couple of points about Hong Kong of which officials should be aware. He thought there was a strong case for an assurances scheme to be offered to students. These were people who feared that political activity might lead to persecution after 1997 and who saw very clearly parallels between their own situation and that of their counterparts in Tiananmen Square. A scheme for students would also reassure their parents who would be more likely to stay at their professional jobs in Hong Kong if they felt that their children were safe. It was not very clear whether Mr Jopling saw this as something additional to or in place of the Government's scheme.
3. Both Mr Jopling and Bowen Wells MP mentioned that they had been told by the Governor during their visit to Hong Kong that the number of "key people" in the territory was about 6,000. Although it later emerged in discussion that this figure had referred only to Crown servants and not the private sector, HKD ought to know that a measure of misunderstanding may have crept in.
4.
Bowen Wells MP asked for 15 minutes with the Foreign Secretary to talk about Hong Kong. This was agreed and Mr Yeo will be in touch with Mr Hall to arrange details.
A scheme for
was
for students
course an FAC
recommendation. Mr Jupling
may
weh have been
behind that too.
CONFIDENTIAL
4/3
DML
David Lidington Special Adviser