TNAG-1624-FCO40-2238-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-China-1987 — Page 51

RESTRICTED

077574 MDHIAN 3839

''IT IS THEREFORE HOPED THAT THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES WILL HANDLE THIS ISSUE IN ALL SERIOUSNESS AND PREVENT DALAI FROM IMPAIRING THE GOOD RELATIONS EXISTING BETWEEN OUR TWO SIDES''

REQUEST FOR THE DEMARCHE TO BE TRANSMITTED TO THE COUNCIL, OTHER EC INSTITUTIONS AND THE GOVERNMENTS OF ALL MEMBERS STATES.

2.

MEI SPOKE IN A SERIOUS TONE BUT ADDED, WHILE ESCORTING THE AMBASSADOR OUT, THAT HE HOPED THAT THIS EVENT NEED NOT ''CAST A SHADOW ON RELATIONS BETWEEN CHINA AND THE EC. HE INDICATED THAT THE CHINESE MISSION TO THE EC WOULD BE MAKING THE SAME POINTS DIRECT TO THE EP AUTHORITIES, BUT DID NOT SAY WHETHER THIS WOULD BE DONE BY THE CHINESE AMBASSADOR PERSONALLY TO SIR H PLUMB. HE DID NOT INDICATE WHETHER CHINESE EMBASSIES IN EC CAPITALS WOULD BE TAKING

PARALLEL ACTION.

3. THE DANISH AMBASSADOR DID NOT INITIATE DISCUSSION OF WHAT TO DO NEXT, BUT LEFT IF TO COLLEAGUES TO REPORT TO CAPITALS.

4. THERE MUST NOW BE A STRONG LIKELIHOOD THAT THE FACT OF THE CHINESE PROTEST AND ITS MAIN POINTS OF SUBSTANCE WILL GET INTO THE PRESS. GIVEN THE HIGH LEVEL OF WESTERN MEDIA INTEREST AT THE MOMENT

AND THE PRESENCE OF MANY REPORTERS FOR THE LIKELY TO BE PRESSED FOR THE BRITISH

IN ALL THINGS TIBETAN, PARTY CONGRESS, WE ARE GOVERNMENT'S REACTION.

LINE TO TAKE.

GRATEFUL FOR GUIDANCE BY TELEGRAM ON THE

EVANS

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

LIMITED

FED

SAD

NEWS DEPT

ECD (I)

PS

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DISTRIBUTION

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HKD

PS/LORD GLENARTHUR

SIR J FRETWELL

MR KERR

MR GILLMORE

MR MCLAREN