TNAG-1420-FCO40-1903-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-Sub-Committee-on-Race-Relations-and--1985 — Page 127

CONFIDENTIAL

Greenpeace

24. Mr Brunner sought UK views. The Swiss had an interest since the two French agents arrested in New Zealand held well-forged Swiss passports. The Swiss had protested in Paris, and had been told that the French would not do it again. The PUS said that he would be expressing HMG's concern over the case to the French Ambassador on 25 September, and would support Greenpeace UK's application for compensation for the Rainbow Warrior. Mr Brunner referred to the New Zealand policy of refusing Allied Naval visits unless assured that the vessel was not armed with nuclear weapons. The PUS confirmed that UK policy remained not to give such confirmation. Mr Brunner remarked that Australia and New Zealand seemed to be making a conscious move away from Europe/America into the group of Asian states. At the UN, both had now joined the Asian/Pacific

group.

Distribution: PS/Lady Young

ACDD

PS/PUS

SCD

Mr Derek Thomas

HKD

Mr Braithwaite

SAD

Mr O'Neill

MVD

Mr David Thomas

SED

ECD(E)

UND

ESSD

MAED

FID

WED

Research Dept

Soviet Dept

EED

Defence Dept SAFD.

ODA (UNESCs)

CONFIDENTIAL

SPD

Chancery Berne

UKMis New York

UKMIS Geneva

Montevideo

Brasilia