L

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 1399

OF 070822Z MAY 91

INFO PRIORITY PEKING

CONFIDENTIAL

Xa

176276

MDLIAN 8842

What's his nekraning forp? RAJ

7/

PEKING TELNO 617: DALAI LAMA: CHINESE DEMARCHE

1. WE HAVE CHECKED WITH OUR CONTACT TO SEE WHETHER THE CHINESE DEMARCHE REPORTED IN TUR WAS SPARKED BY ANYTHING SPECIFIC. BUT THE POSITION REMAINS AS REPORTED IN MY TELNO 965: .I.E. THAT THE DALAI LAMA'S PROGRAMME WILL PROBABLY NOT ENABLE HIM TO VISIT HONG

KONG UNTIL LATE 1992 OR EARLY 1993 AT THE EARLIEST. THERE IS ALWAYS THE POSSIBILITY THAT A GAP MIGHT OPEN UP IN HIS PROGRAMME, BUT HIS LOCAL SUPPORTERS ARE NOT AWARE OF ANY SPECIFIC PLANS AT

PRESENT.

2. I AGREE WITH THE LINE DEPLOYED BY COATES IN RESPONSE TO THE DEMARCHE. IF YOU SEE NO OBJECTION, I SUGGEST THAT HE SHOULD NOW CONFIRM IT AS AN OFFICIAL RESPONSE, ADDING THAT WE ARE NOT AWARE OF ANY PRESENT PLANS FOR THE DALAI LAMA TO VISIT HONG KONG. BUT I WOULD PREFER COATES NOT/NOT TO GIVE ANY UNDERTAKING TO THE CHINESE ABOUT WHAT WE WOULD DO IF WE WERE TO RECEIVE AN

APPLICATION FOR A VISA FROM THE DALAI LAMA. I CONTINUE TO TAKE THE VIEW THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO REFUSE PERMISSION TO THE DALAI

:

J LAMA TO COME HERE IF HE APPLIED BUT I SEE NO REASON TO MAKE THE

FORMAL FORWARD COMMITMENT TO THE CHINESE ON THIS OR ANY OTHER

VISA CASE. IN ADDITION,

IN ADDITION, I IMAGINE THAT IF THE CHINESE PUBLICISED SUCH A COMMITMENT, OR YOU HAD A PQ ON THE SUBJECT, IT COULD CAUSE CONSIDERABLE POLITICAL EMBARRASSMENT IN LONDON.

WILSON

Roux have

revet.

beitler

YYYY

19/5

کاریه

Mr caur

вить

Mr Burns

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The previous Hong Kong term (965) is attached. 10 It does not offer a reason for HK's intention to refuse the DL a visa, though. We have havover stated mur

wish to be consulted immediately

in the

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