CONFIDENTIAL
FM WASHINGTON
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2088
OF 302122Z AUGUST 88
INFO DESKBY 31030OZ HONG KONG
713
CONFIDENTIAL
715
HKD 243/8
IN VEC
31 AUGR
025435
MDHIAN 1691
N
S
TOP POPY
YOUR TELNO 2207 TO HONG KONG: PROPOSED IRAC STUDY VISIT TO HONG
KONG.
1. I AGREE THAT IT IS VERY MUCH FOR THE GOVERNOR TO JUDGE WHETHER IRAC'S REQUEST FOR ACCESS SHOULD BE GRANTED BUT AS SEEN FROM HERE TOO THERE ARE STRONG GROUNDS FOR CONSIDERING THEIR
REQUEST FAVOURABLY.
2. IRAC HAVE DEMONSTRATED AN ABILITY TO MOBILIZE CONGRESSIONAL SUPPORT INCLUDING FROM HEAVYWEIGHTS LIKE DOLE (OUR TELNO 2077). IN ADDITION, THERE ARE NOW THE FIRST SIGNS OF A WRITE-IN CAMPAIGN ABOUT DISTURBANCES AT HEI LING CHAU COUR TELNO 2087).
THERE IS SOME RISK THAT THESE DIFFERENT ISSUES COULD DEVELOP
INTO A MORE SIGNIFICANT CAMPAIGN ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS IN HONG KONG, WHICH COULD BE DAMAGING TO HONG KONG'S WIDER INTERESTS HERE. IT WOULD THEREFORE BE EXTREMELY HELPFUL IF WE COULD NIP ANY SUCH CAMPAIGN IN THE BUD BY GRANTING IRAC'S REQUEST, AND ALSO BY PRODUCING AS FULL AS POSSIBLE A LINE ON THE HEI LING CHAU DISTURBANCES ONCE THE INVESTIGATIONS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED.
FALL
705
774
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
35
MINIMAL
HKD
UND
ADDITIONAL
1
MR SPENCE,
DISTRIBUTION
36
SEAD
LEGAL ADVISERS
(LUNAR HOUSE,)
(HOME OFFICE)
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