G. F. 82
File No.
CONFIDENTIAL
NOTE FOR FILE
Governor's Visit to Australia
8 to 15 May 1991
Meeting with The Hon Bob Hawke, MP, Prime Minister on 14 May 1991
The
Governor
and
the
Page
British High
Commissioner,
14 May.
Canberra called on Mr Bob Hawke on The following points were raised :-
(a)
The
(b)
(c)
Governor
thanked
Mr
Hawke
for
the
to
practical - assistance given by Australia Hong Kong in recent years; specifically on the
of Vietnamese resettlement
search
for
a
migrants
and the
and in to join
realistic solution; respect of Hong Kong's application
PECC and APEC.
we about
the could
The Governor briefed Mr Hawke on the current state of
with talks
the Chinese over airport
He project.
said that probably meet Chinese concerns financial aspects but could not agree to the veto power which the Chinese were seeking.
the
Mr Hawke asked whether morale in Hong Kong had suffered since June 1989. The Governor said that those events had caused deep concerns but morale had since improved. The civil service was a potential problem as 1997 approached but efficiency was still high.
(d)
Mr
(e)
Hawke
asked
about the
prospects
for
a
smooth transition in 1997. The Governor said that this depended very much on the leadership in Peking. It was difficult to see how the
would work out.
succession
unpopular
Li
and Jiang Zemin
Li
Peng had
was
no
constituency. Mr Hawke said that he had found Peng very difficult to deal with and a very wooden personality.
The Governor said that economic developments in south China had achieved considerable
of Peking.
momentum,
almost
regardless
Hong Kong would always play a key economic and
role, something geographic
which Australian Mr Hawke
were investment in
businessmen seemed to recognize.
agreed generally
that
Australian
businessmen
very positive
about
Hong Kong.
CONFIDENTIAL
.....