CONFIDENTIAL
4.
[
(The
they or other prominent dissidents visited the UK.
particular sensitivity of Hong Kong's position in relation
to the dissident movement would need to be taken into
account in any such contacts).
Consider the case for a visit by a human rights delegation
along Australian lines, ie a carefully selected mix of
human rights experts, legal specialists, people with
previous experience of China and (if the Group plan to
visit Tibet) one or more Tibetan speakers. The choice of
leader would be important.
5. Consider with the BBC the possibility of increasing the
number of programmes dealing with political pluralism and civil liberties carried by the BBC's Chinese Service. (The BBC are acutely sensitive about any suggestion of FCO editorial influence. They claim that they already cover these issues extensively in their programmes for China).
6.
Put more emphasis on good government-related training at
the expense of a reduction in the number of scholarship awards for scientific and technical subjects or in support of commercial opportunities (in 1991 / 92 we will be
providing 27 scholarships for legal and civil service
training at an average cost of some PDS 8,000 per scholarship). Encourage EC partners and the European Commission to make similar adjustments in their training
programmes
•
7.
8.
Request permission for independent observers to attend
trials in China. (This request has been refused by the Chinese in the past).
Request permission for independent groups such as the International Red Cross to visit Chinese jails. (The EC
demarche on 10 September made this request. The Chinese responded that their law did not allow foreign observers to
CONFIDENTIAL