CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TELNO 181
TO IMMEDIATE STOCKHOLM
OF 171428Z NOV 92
CONFIDENTIAL
TOD CODV
71
057557
MDHOAN 4315
HKC
01214
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
INFO IMMEDIATE OSLO, HELSINKI, COPENHAGEN
INFO IMMEDIATE UKREP BRUSSELS, ACTOR
54
YOUR TELNO 368 (NOT TO ALL): VISIT OF CHINESE VICE-PREMIER
TO SWEDEN
1 WE AGREE THAT THERE WOULD BE VALUE IN PRIME MINISTER BILDT MAKING CLEAR TO ZHU THAT SWEDEN IS SUPPORTIVE OF THE GOVERNOR'S
APPROACH AND IN PARTICULAR HIS PROPOSALS FOR BROADENING DEMOCRACY
IN A MODEST WAY. THIS WOULD MAKE THE POINT TO THE CHINESE THAT SUPPORT FOR THE GOVERNOR COMES NOT JUST FROM THE USUAL SUSPECTS SUCH AS THE US, BUT FROM A BROADER RANGE OF COUNTRIES. IT WOULD BE PARTICULARLY EFFECTIVE IF THIS WAS DONE IN PRIVATE RATHER THAN
IN A PUBLIC STATEMENT. WE HAVE DISCUSSED THIS WITH THE GOVERNOR. HE AND WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD EXPRESS APPRECIATION TO THE PRIME MINISTER'S FOREIGN AFFAIRS ADVISER AND SUGGEST THAT
THE PRIME MINISTER MIGHT LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE FOLLOWING LINES:
HONG KONG IS IMPORTANT TO SWEDEN AS A TRADING PARTNER. NATURAL THEREFORE THAT SWEDEN SHOULD BE INTERESTED IN DEVELOPMENTS THERE.
BELIEVE THAT THE MODEST PROPOSALS FOR INCREASED DEMOCRACY MADE BY THE GOVERNOR WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO HONG KONG'S ROLE AS A FINANCIAL AND SERVICES CENTRE.
-
FOR CHINA TO SORT OUT ITS DIFFERENCES WITH BRITAIN AND HONG KONG. BUT CANNOT BELIEVE THAT STRIDENT RHETORIC IN ANYONE'S INTEREST. HOPE THEREFORE THAT CHINESE WILL SERIOUSLY CONSIDER TAKING UP GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL TO PUT FORWARD ALTERNATIVE IDEAS AND GET BACK TO PRIVATE DISCUSSION.
2.
ZHU RONGJI IS ALSO VISITING FINLAND, NORWAY AND DENMARK. HELSINKI, OSLO AND COPENHAGEN HAVE DISCRETION, IF THEY JUDGE THAT THEIR HOST GOVERNMENTS WOULD BE RECEPTIVE, TO SUGGEST INFORMALLY TO THEM THAT A SIMILAR LINE SHOULD BE TAKEN IN PRIVATE WITH ZHU.
HURD
1
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CONFIDENTIAL