CONFIDENTIAL
کا ھو
THOD 340/1
RECEIVED IN PEGISTRY
O 5 MAR 1990
fr
017200
MDHOAN 4231
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE BTC HONG KONG
TELNO 32
OF 01120OZ MARCH 90
DESK OFFICER
REGISTRY
INDEX
PA
Action Taken
AND TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, PEKING, TOKYO, CANBERRA, OTTAWA AND TO IMMEDIATE WASHINGTON, SINGAPORE, EC POSTS INFO IMMEDIATE UKREP JLG HONG KONG
YOUR TELNO 319 AND HONG KONG TELNO 730: HONG KONG: INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT
1.
AS YOU MAYBE AWARE FROM THE BBC WORLD SERVICE, THE LEAD STORY IN TODAY'S DAILY MAIL REPORTS THAT BRITAIN HAS PERSUADED AT LEAST SEVEN OTHER COUNTRIES, INCLUDING FRANCE, HOLLAND, ITALY, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, JAPAN AND SINGAPORE TO OFFER REFUGE TO HONG KONG PEOPLE AND THAT A MINISTERIAL STATEMENT IS EXPECTED NEXT WEEK. THIS STORY IS ALSO CARRIED PROMINENTLY IN A NUMBER OF OTHER PAPERS, INCLUDING THE TIMES AND DAILY EXPRESS.
2. THIS IS OF COURSE A GARBLED ACCOUNT AND IS NOT BASED ON ANY ANNOUNCEMENT BY US. OF THE COUNTRIES WE HAVE APPROACHED, ONLY SINGAPORE HAS PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED ANY SPECIFIC MEASURES FOR HONG KONG. WE KNOW THAT FRANCE AND BELGIUM ALSO INTEND TO INTRODUCE MEASURES BUT THE FRENCH HAVE RECENTLY INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD PREFER US NOT TO MAKE ANY SPECIFIC REFERENCE TO A FIRM FRENCH COMMITMENT (BECAUSE OF POTENTIAL PROBLEMS WITH THE CHINESE).
LINE TO TAKE
3. IF ASKED, POSTS SHOULD DRAW ON THE FOLLOWING LINE:
4.
FOR SOME MONTHS NOW WE HAVE BEEN ENCOURAGING OUR FRIENDS AND PARTNERS TO FOLLOW OUR LEAD IN PROVIDING ASSURANCES TO HONG KONG PEOPLE TO GIVE THEM THE CONFIDENCE TO REMAIN IN THE TERRITORY.
- THE KEY OBJECTIVE IS THAT RECIPIENTS WOULD NOT HAVE TO MOVE TO THE ACCEPTING COUNTRY IN ORDER TO OBTAIN AN ASSURANCE. THEY COULD REMAIN IN HONG KONG WHERE THEY COULD CONTINUE TO MAKE THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO THE PROSPERITY OF THE TERRITORY. - A FEW COUNTRIES ARE ALREADY TAKING ACTION OF THIS KIND. THE OTHER COUNTRIES WE HAVE APPROACHED HAVE UNDERTAKEN TO CONSIDER OUR PROPOSAL.
MORE AT THIS STAGE.
IT WOULD BE PREMATURE TO SAY ANYTHING
(FOR PEKING) IT WILL OBVIOUSLY BE PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT TO TRY TO DISPEL CHINESE SUSPICIONS. IF ASKED, YOU SHOULD ASSURE THE CHINESE THAT:
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