CONFIDENTIAL
HKC026/2
1 8 MAR 1991
TR
Mus Marsden
Ms Majur
W%
FROM:
Edward Bickham
DATE:
6 March 1991
Mr McLaren
c.c.
Mr Davies
Mr Cornish, News Dept
Mr Cooper, Planners
Mr Bates, PRU
Mr Paul, HKD
3
Mr Burns
HONG KONG AND CHINA
1.
Thank you for sending me a copy of your draft note on the communications strategy to pave the way for the Secretary of State's visit to Hong Kong and China. I agree that Tibet, human rights and allegations of British 'kow-towing' to China over Hong Kong are the three fronts on which we have cause for greatest concern. I understand that Channel 4's 'Despatches' programme tonight will be concerned with Tibet.
2. On the Dalai Lama we have a reasonably defensible position since he will be seen by the second most senior member of the Government (albeit in an ambiguous capacity) and a member of the Royal Family. Do we have other official level contacts with the Dalai Lama at other times? In which multilateral forums have human rights violations in Tibet been raised and have we been associated with these discussions? What representations have we made ourselves and are there individual case which we have championed? I think these issues need to be covered in a Q and A brief.
3.
In response to suggestions that the Joint Declaration was a mistake, I believe we should be aggressive in setting out what the consequences of a policy of inaction would have been and stressing the safeguards which have been achieved.
4. I agree that we should be up-front about the importance of the visit in three respects: Hong Kong; bilateral relations (? how is Sino-UK trade coming along compared with other European countries); and our dealings in multilateral bodies. On the last point can we expect productive exchanges on arms control and Cambodia during the Secretary of State's visit?
5. I think you are being overly-ambitious in your list of suggested journalists for the Secretary of State to see prior to departure. I doubt whether sufficient diary slots exist. You should definitely see Ronald Spark of 'The Sun' yourself since he and the Secretary of State are not soul-mates. 'The Guardian' and
'Mail on Sunday' could, perhaps, be seen by Lord Caithness.
CONFIDENTIAL
/6.