CONFIDENTIAL
38
027110
MDLIAN 7408
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 452
OF 090444Z FEBRUARY 91
LIKB 020 13
Pa
т
INFO ROUTINE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG, WASHINGTON
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MY TELNO 448 GULF WAR: BURDEN SHARING: CONTRIBUTION BY HONG KONG: COMMUNIST PRESS
1. IN THE DAYS BEFORE THE VOTE ON OUR CONTRIBUTION TO THE GULF WAR, THE COMMUNIST PRESS KEPT UP A SUSTAINED ATTACK ON THE PROPOSAL. THE MAIN THEMES WERE:
(A) THE HKG HAS BEEN CALLING ON PEOPLE TO TIGHTEN THEIR BELTS AND, IN CONTRAST, NOW PROPOSES TO MAKE A VERY GENEROUS CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS WAR COSTS:
(B) THE MONEY WOULD BETTER BE USED TO MAINTAIN HK'S PROSPERITY AND STABILITY RATHER THAN TO SUPPORT BRITAIN IN THE WAR. BRITAIN MIGHT IN ANY CASE ASK FOR MORE LATER:
(C) WHETHER OR NOT MEMBERS OF LEGCO DECIDE TO MAKE A DONATION WOULD SHOW THEIR TRUE NATURE, I.E. WHETHER. THEY WERE LOOKING AFTER THE INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG OR THOSE OF THE BRITISH:
(D) A DONATION TO THE WAR WOULD INVITE REVENGE ATTACKS FROM MUSLIMS:
(E) IT WOULD BE BEST FOR LEGCO TO SHELVE THE PROPOSAL TO MAKE A DONATION. IF IT NONETHELESS PASSED IT, IT WOULD BE BEST TO GIVE IT AFTER THE WAR TO AN INTERNATIONAL CHARITABLE ORGANISATION.
2. NCNA OFFICIALS THEMSELVES HAVE BEEN REASONABLY GUARDED IN PUBLIC. ZHOU NAN SAID AT ONE POINT THAT THERE WERE PROS AND CONS TO THE ISSUE, AND LATER THAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG SHOULD DECIDE THE QUESTION.
3. ON 7 FEBRUARY, THE PA POINTED OUR INFORMALLY TO NCNA THAT THE ATTACKS IN THE COMMUNIST PRESS WOULD HARDLY HELP TO GAIN SUPPORT IN THE US FOR THE RETENTION OF MFN STATUS FOR CHINA, SOMETHING WHICH BOTH WE AND THEY WANTED. INTERESTINGLY, THE DA GONG PAO AND
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