RESTRICTED
HRB 011/3.
→ COPY AST?
RESTRICTED
FM PEKING
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 522
OF 280814Z MARCH 89
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
INFO PRIORITY UKREP JLG HONG KONG
212
071775 MDHIAN 8209
HONG KONG : FAC ENQUIRY AND QUOTE BILL OF RIGHTS UNQUOTE.
1. THE BELGIAN EMBASSY HAVE TOLD US THAT THEIR AMBASSADOR ASKED VICE FOREIGN MINISTER ZHOU NAN, AT A RECEPTION ON MARCH 25, WHAT ZHOU THOUGHT OF THE REPORT IN THAT DAY'S QUOTE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST UNQUOTE THAT SIR G HOWE HAD ANNOUNCED TO THE FAC THE BRITISH SIDE'S INTENTION OF ENACTING A BILL OF RIGHTS IN HONG KONG BEFORE 1997. THE SAME REPORT CLAIMED THAT QUOTE CHINA UNQUOTE - NOT FURTHER SPECIFIED HAD AGREED TO THE IDEA. ZHOU REACTED EXPLOSIVELY SAYING THAT THIS KIND OF ISSUE WAS NO CONCERN OF THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT OR INDEED OF HMG. CHINA WOULD MANAGE HONG KONG
AS IT THOUGHT BEST.
-
2. I REPORT THIS FOR WHAT IT IS WORTH, WITH A VIEW TO ZHOU'S TALKS IN LONDON, BUT WOULD NOT (NOT) PLACE TOO MUCH WEIGHT ON IT. BOTH THE BELGIAN AMBASSADOR AND ZHOU SEEM TO HAVE BEEN UNSIGHTED ON THE DETAILS AND ZHOU MAY MERELY (AND UNDERSTANDABLY) HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DISCOURAGE THIRD-COUNTRY MEDDLING. HE DID NOT (NOT) REVERT TO THE QUESTION OR TO ANY OTHER HONG KONG ISSUE WHEN I SAW HIM OFF AT THE AIRPORT ON 26 MARCH.
BAILES
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
20
MINIMAL HKD
DISTRIBUTION
21
PRU
FED
ADDITIONAL
1
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