CONFIDENTIAL
Z CZC
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE PEKING
TELNO
OF 161523Z APRIL 93
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS BRUSSELS
HONG KONG PERSONAL FOR POLITICAL ADVISER
CHINESE DISCRIMINATION AGAINST JARDINES
IMMEDIATE
SIR CHARLES POWELL HAS WRITTEN TO HKD OUTLINING SOME OF THE EVIDENCE OF A CHINESE BAN ON BUSINESS WITH JARDINES AND ASKING
1.
THAT WE RAISE THIS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE FORTHCOMING TALKS
ON HONG KONG (COPY BY FAX TO COX, PEKING, EHRMAN, HONG KONG AND WRIGHT UKREP BRUSSELS). HE HAS SPOKEN TO AMBASSADOR MA ABOUT
THIS BUT MA SIMPLY UNDERTOOK TO REPORT.
2.
WE DO NOT WISH TO MAKE THE JARDINES PROBLEMS AN ISSUE IN THE TALKS ABOUT ELECTORAL MATTERS. BUT THE EVIDENCE OF
DISCRIMINATION AGAINST A BRITISH BUSINESS IS NOW COMPELLING AND MINISTERS AND THE GOVERNOR AGREE THAT WE MUST TAKE IT UP WITH THE CHINESE SIDE. WE WOULD THEREFORE BE GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD ARRANGE FOR THE EMBASSY (AT A LEVEL YOU JUDGE APPROPRIATE) TO RAISE THE ISSUE WITH MOFTEC. YOU MAY FEEL THAT THIS WOULD BE BEST DONE BELOW YOUR LEVEL TO EMPHASISE THE SEPARATION FROM
THE
HKD
R.A.J.BUNTEN
270 2655