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004063 MDHIAN 9355
STATEMENT IF A SATISFACTORY REPLY WAS NOT FORTHCOMING. A NUMBER OF DELEGATIONS SPOKE IN SUPPORT OF THIS PROPOSAL. ADAM (BELGIUM) SAID THAT THERE WERE REPORTS SUGGESTING THAT THE CHINESE PLANNED TO MARK THE CHINESE NEW YEAR BY OFFERING SOME DETAINEES CLEMENCY. IN VIEW OF THIS, IT MIGHT BE WORTH DELAYING ANY PUBLICITY UNTIL AFTER THE CHINESE NEW YEAR.
5.
RIBEIRO (PRESIDENCY) SAID THAT EVENTS ON 16 DECEMBER 1991 AND THEIR IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH HAD REGRETTABLY LED TO CONFUSION. IT WAS
TIME NOW TO LOOK AHEAD. THE TWELVE SHOULD SET OUT CLEARLY THEIR
CONCERNS TO THE CHINESE BUT THERE WERE A NUMBER OF CONSIDERATIONS
RELATING TO TIMING THAT SHOULD BE BORNE IN MIND. HE NOTED THAT LI PENG WAS TO PAY A BILATERAL VISIT TO PORTUGAL, PROBABLY ON 3-4 FEBRUARY. IN THE LIGHT OF THIS AND THE OTHER CONCERNS RAISED BY PARTNERS, HE PROPOSED THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMME OF ACTION: THE PRESIDENCY AMBASSADOR IN PEKING SHOULD MAKE A NEW DEMARCHE TO THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES BEFORE LI PENG'S VISIT, DRAWING ATTENTION TO
THE UNSATISFACTORY REPLY TO THE DEMARCHE ON DISSIDENT TRIALS: THE PRESIDENCY WOULD RAISE THE QUESTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS WITH LI PENG: IN THE LIGHT OF THESE CONTACTS, THE NEXT SCHEDULED ASIAN WORKING GROUP ON 5 FEBRUARY SHOULD PREPARE A PAPER ON HOW BEST TO UNDERLINE
EC CONCERN ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA WHICH COULD BE DISCUSSED AT
THE 12-13 FEBRUARY POLITICAL COMMITTEE AND THEN SUBMITTED TO MINISTERS AT THE 17 FEBRUARY EPC MINISTERIAL. APPLEYARD AND DEJAMMET PRESSED FOR EARLIER ACTION: THERE WAS AN FAC ON 3-4 FEBRUARY WHICH COULD ACT ON THE HOM REPORT, BUT RIBEIRO CONCLUDED ON THESE LINES.
TROIKA WITH CHINESE
6. IN THE MARGINS, APPLEYARD RAISED WITH RIBEIRO THE PROPOSAL FOR A TROIKA MEETING WITH QIAN QICHEN. HE ASKED ABOUT THE PRESIDENCY'S INTENTIONS, GIVEN THAT THIS TROIKA WOULD BE AN ADDITION TO THE AGREED PROGRAMME OF CONTACTS WITH THE CHINESE. RIBEIRO WAS UNABLE TO BE SPECIFIC ABOUT THE PORTUGUESE PLANS. THEIR INITIAL PLAN FOR
A TROIKA ON 18 FEBRUARY COULD FALL AWAY AS IT LOOKED AS THOUGH QIAN QICHEN WOULD NOT NOW BE COMING TO LISBON THAT DAY. HE CONFIRMED THAT IF THERE WAS A TROIKA MEETING NEITHER HONG KONG NOR MACAO WOULD BE ON THE AGENDA. HE AGREED THAT THESE WERE BILATERAL ISSUES FOR THE UK AND PORTUGAL RESPECTIVELY TO DEAL WITH DIRECTLY IN THEIR OWN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE.
ARBUTHNOTT
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