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CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO PRIORITY MADRID
TELNO 29
OF 0115O9Z FEBRUARY 93
INFO PRIORITY UKREP BRUSSELS, PEKING, HONG KONG
S
PEKING TEL NO 64 (NOT TO ALL): VISIT TO CHINA BY SPANISH PRIME
MINISTER
1.
Before Gonzalez goes to Peking on 10 February, you could usefully speak to the MFA about two areas of policy towards China: (a) the EC policy consensus and (b) Hong Kong.
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2. First (a), against the background of the Asia Working Group decision of 9 December not to relax the remaining 1989 Madrid measures against China, it is possible even likely that the Chinese will seek to take advantage of increasing Spanish commercial interest in China to entice them away from the agreed EC position. We would be grateful for any stiffening of the Spanish backbone, stressing the importance UK (and on the evidence of the AWG discussion, the Twelve) attaches to maintaining the consensus and the importance for the EC of maintaining a common approach.
3. On (b) Hong Kong, you may wish to draw on the following (HKD
will be sending unclassified background material by bag):
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Hong Kong's success hinges on its economy. Overall economic picture positive (5 percent growth this year and next). China economic development irreversible. But we also need to create the right political environment.
- On 7 October Mr Patten proposed a package of measures designed to develop vigorous democratic institutions in Hong Kong, while maintaining an efficient, executive-led Government. These were well received in Hong Kong. The Governor plans to introduce Legislation to the Legislative Council in February it will be fully debated during the following months.
- The Chinese have over-reacted to these modest proposals which do not conflict with the Joint Declaration or the Basic Law and which respond to a genuine desire for more democracy in Hong
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