034706 MDLOAN 6431
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FM FCO
TO PRIORITY PEKING
TELNO 429
OF 22150OZ MAY 92
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27
240
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28 MAY 1992
TOP COPY Q DIST?
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG, BTC HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
FROM FED
YOUR TELNO 671: HUMAN RIGHTS DELEGATION
SUMMARY
1.
ACCOUNT OF FIRST DISCUSSIONS WITH SIR G HOWE. PROPOSED NEXT
STEPS.
DETAIL
2. SIR J COLES DISCUSSED THE DELEGATION WITH SIR G HOWE OVER LUNCH ON 22 MAY. OTHERS PRESENT WERE: DAVIES (FED), WYE (RAD), WATT (UND) AND ARABELLA WARBURTON (PS/SIR G HOWE).
3"
DISCUSSION WAS FREE-RANGING. IT WAS AGREED THAT, SUBJECT TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S AND THE PRIME MINISTER'S VIEWS, THE DELEGATION'S GENERAL OBJECTIVE WOULD BE TO CONCENTRATE ON QUIET DISCUSSION AND PERSUASION AS PART OF THE UK'S OVERALL EFFORT TO PROMOTE AN IMPROVEMENT IN HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA. IT WAS RECOGNISED THAT CERTAIN ELEMENTS IN THE MEDIA WOULD ADVOCATE A MORE CONFRONTATIONAL POSTURE. BUT ALL OUR CONTACTS WITH SERIOUS NGOS SUGGESTED THAT THEY WOULD PREFER THE QUIET APPROACH.
4. THIS ARGUED FOR INCLUSION IN THE DELEGATION (AS YOU HAVE ARGUED) OF PEOPLE WITH GENUINE EXPERTISE IN HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES AND/OR CHINA. IT WOULD ALSO BE IMPORTANT TO CHOOSE CAREFULLY AMONG MPS TO AVOID THE RISK OF GRAND-STANDING BY ANY PUBLICITY SEEKERS. NO DECISIONS WERE TAKEN AT THIS TIME, BUT AMONG THE NAMES OF EXPERTS CONSIDERED WAS THAT OF DR PHILIP BAKER. ON THE RELIGIOUS SIDE, THE IDEA OF TERRY WAITE WAS ALSO THOUGHT WORTH EXPLORING IN VIEW OF HIS GOOD PUBLIC IMAGE IN THIS COUNTRY AND THE FACT THAT HE HAS VISITED CHINA TWICE ON CHURCH BUSINESS
AMONG MPS, THE NAMES OF ANN CLWYD AND DALE
*
CAMPBELL-SAVOURS WERE SUGGESTED AS POTENTIAL CANDIDATES FROM THE OPPOSITION. BOTH HAD RETURNED FROM A VISIT TO CHINA WITH A VERY
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