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ЯESELF IN RES
8
CONFIDENTIAL
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the situation in Hong Kong is always changing. The Government must be allowed to adapt to the
new situation. Some things, as we have found
in the UK, are best done out side government.
remain committed to a strong, effective, executive-led government in Hong Kong.
But we
Lif raised]
we
are happy to discuss with the Chinese side
the Hong Kong Government's plans for
corporatising RTHK. This should be done
quietly through the JLG, not through the press.
Human Rights
There has been no real improvement in China's
human rights record over the past year. The Chinese may now feel that they have successfully weathered the storm
on human rights. Their announcement at the end of
February of sentences imposed on eleven more Tiananmen dissidents shows a blatant disregard for Western public opinion, particularly since the EC had made specific
representations about some of those sentenced.
The Chinese have now accepted the Prime Minister's suggestion that a British human rights delegation led by Sir Geoffrey Howe should visit China after the election. They expressed the hope that mention of human rights in the delegation's title should be avoided. We are writing separately on the way forward on
forward on the delegation.
A
CONFIDENTIAL