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MDHOAN 6231
TOP COPY
CONFIDENTIAL
Q DIST?
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO DESKBY 21010OZ PEKING
TELNO 996
OF 181611Z DEC 92
AND TO DESKBY 21010OZ HONG KONG
AND TO DESKBY 21010OZ SINGAPORE
INFO IMMEDIATE UKREP JLG HONG KONG
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HKD 021/4 m.
YR TELNO 1750(NOT TO ALL), AND SINGAPORE TELNO 347 : LEE KUAN
YEW'S VIEWS ON HONG KONG AND CHINA
1 PROVIDED THE GOVERNOR HAS NO OBJECTION, PLEASE TAKE ACTION AS
用
PROPOSED IN PARA 4 OF FIRST TUR. WE ARE SEPARATELY REPLYING TO HKTELNO 2915 (TO ASK CERTAIN POSTS TO DRAW ON THE POINTS IN OURTELNO/273 TO SINGAPORE).
2.
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WE SHARE YOUR DOUBTS THAT AN APPROACH IS LIKELY TO AFFECT CHINESE THINKING MATERIALLY, BUT WE AGREE THAT WE CANNOT ALLOW LEE KUAN YEW'S NONSENSE TO PASS UNCHALLENGED, AND THAT, IN ANY CASE, THIS PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO RE-ENGAGE THE CHINESE OVER HONG KONG.
3.
·
ALL THE ELEMENTS YOU PROPOSE ARE WORTH INCLUDING IN YOUR APPROACH (INCLUDING THAT IN YOUR PARA 5 ON NO CHANGE IN UK POLICY) BUT WE ARE NOT SURE IT WOULD BE ENTIRELY ACCURATE TO SAY (AS IN PARA 4, TIRET 4) THAT WE HAVE NOT/NOT BEEN ACTIVELY SEEKING THE SUPPORT OF OTHER GOVERNMENTS. THE GOVERNOR'S RECENT VISITS TO JAPAN AND CANADA, AND HUM'S BRIEFING OF EC AND OTHER DIPLOMATS HERE WOULD MAKE THIS DIFFICULT TO ARGUE.
4.
THAT SAID, IT WOULD BE RIGHT TO REPRESENT THE GOVERNOR'S RECENT FOREIGN VISITS, IF THE CHINESE RAISE THEM, AS PART OF THE NORMAL PROCESS OF EXCHANGE WITH MAJOR TRADING AND INVESTMENT PARTNERS, AND NOTHING TO DO WITH ANY CONSPIRACY.
5.
A FURTHER ELEMENT TO INCLUDE, IF YOU AND THE GOVERNOR AGREE, MIGHT BE THE FOLLOWING:
- FAR FROM BEING ENGAGED IN A CONSPIRACY AGAINST CHINA, HMG AND HKG HAVE CONSISTENTLY LOBBIED THE US ADMINISTRATION TO PRESERVE MFN FOR CHINA. WE HAVE ALREADY MADE CONTACT WITH CLINTON'S TEAM ON THIS, AND THE GOVERNOR HOPES TO PAY AN EARLY CALL ON THE NEW
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