CONFIDENTIAL
B17
162575
MDHOAN 6613
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 744
OF 05170OZ APRIL 90
нко жолто
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
0 1 JUN 1990
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
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REGISTRY
PA
Action Taken
4
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR
FROM PAUL, HKD
VISIT TO HONG KONG BY PAUL CHANNON
1.
*
JOHN YAXLEY VERY KINDLY SENT ME A COPY OF THE HKGO'S RECENT FAX ABOUT PAUL CHANNON'S VISIT TO HONG KONG.
2. YOU MIGHT FIND IT HELPFUL TO KNOW THAT MR CHANNON WAS ONE OF THE SENIOR CONSERVATIVE BACKBENCHERS WHOM THE SECRETARY OF STATE BRIEFED PERSONALLY IN THE RUN UP TO THE TABLING OF THE NATIONALITY BILL. I HAPPENED TO BE PRESENT AT THAT MEETING.
3.
MR CHANNON THOUGHT THAT THE SCHEME RISKED FALLING BETWEEN TWO STOOLS. WAS IT NOT TOO LITTLE TO SATISFY HONG KONG WHILST STIRRING UP PROBLEMS AT HOME AT THE WORST POSSIBLE TIME? HE WAS ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE ATTITUDE OF PEKING. WOULD THEY NOT MAKE THE SCHEME UNWORKABLE? QUOTE IF THIS HAS TO BE DONE, IT HAS TO BE DONE. BUT IT IS AN AWFUL BLOW TO THE TORY PARTY AT THE MOMENT UNQUOTE
4. OUR GUESS IS THAT MR CHANNON WILL RELUCTANTLY VOTE WITH THE GOVERNMENT - MORE OUT OF LOYALTY TO THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE NEED TO SHOW SOLIDARITY IN DIFFICULT POLITICAL CIRCUMSTANCES THAN FROM CONVICTION.
5. PLEASE TREAT THIS IS STRICTLY FOR YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION.
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MR MCLAREN
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CONFIDENTIAL