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350
14 June 1989]
MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE
RT HON SIR GEOFFREY Howe, QC, MP, MR R McLaren and Mr A Paul
[Mr Rowlands Contd] cantly what happened in China itself; that it was being conditioned by the problems, so far as they were seen, of managing a wholly unprecedented popular demonstration at the same time as they were playing host to the leader of the other world ninisi economist power. I think that the leadership in China was probably overcome by bewilderment and, in the end, fear. I do not think the input from the outside world would have made very much difference to the chaotic series of decision-taking that seems to have taken place at that time.
and
940. We were there in the first weekend, the weekend of the funeral itself, and it seemed that our representation, our embassies, were under-esti- mating considerably the importance and the sig- nificance of the actual student movement itself. Has the embassy maintained an interesting link with right of opposition groups, or have we tended not to do so in the case of China?
(Sir Geoffrey Howe) Absolutely not. The embassy has maintained a very widespread frame- work of contact-increasingly so, of course, as openness has spread and as our activites have become engaged with more and more promotion of educational links, commercial links, banking links and cultural links. The range of contacts has spread enormously. I think that spreading set of contacts from the Western world has been one of the features that has tended to fortify and extend the democratic aspirations of many Chinese people; probably at the same time as being seen as one of the more menacing aspects which has provoked the reaction now seen.
941. You do not think it has been under- estimated?
(Sir Geoffrey Howe) I do not think so. I think that our perception is the same as that of the rest of the world. Whenever these things suddenly over- whelm a situation people ask themselves “Should we could we-have done more to foresee it?" That perception is no doubt one that everyone, every actor on the scene, must ask oneself. I do not think we have seen any evidence to suggest there was some great misjudgment here.
Chairman
942. Before we leave the murky internal situ- ation in China, I think we ought to ask one or two questions about Hong Kong British citizens in China and, also, one or two questions about possible refugee movements from the People's Republic into Hong Kong and, indeed, elsewhere. Could I ask first about some allegations which have been made by some Hong Kong British citizens that the British Embassy staff refused to help them? My own impression is that, certainly in Shanghai, the British Consular staff have been bending over backwards to help, particularly Hong Kong citizens. Nevertheless, these allegations were made and we would value you'comment on them.
(Sir Geoffrey Howe) I have sought to investigate every allegation of that kind that has been made, and the one thing that is clear is that the Ambas-
[Continued
sador and his staff in Peking and Shanghai have regarded it as their first duty throughout this des- perate period to do all they can to ensure the safety of British citizens and Hong Kong residents without discrimination. They have kept in the closest possible touch with the Hong Kong Government for that reason. Hong Kong people stranded in Peking receive exactly the same help and advice from the embassy as any other British national. I think that some of the allegations I have seen perhaps do not take sufficient account of the fact that the same kind of advice was being given to everyone. People asking for help in getting to the airport, for example—whether individuals or reporters or television crews-had to be told, in the first place, "You must stay in your hotels because there is no other advice we can give until the situation has clarified. We are not able to look to us to organise transportation by the embassy to the airport." Again, there is a sheer lack of resources. We have very limited embassy transpor- tation other than buses. But the advice that was being given throughout was the same. The ordinary commercial aircraft were leaving throughout and additional aircraft were laid on, both/British Air- ways and Hong Kong based airlines. There was no discrimination as to who should get on those.
Mr Lester
943. Sir Geoffrey, you have used the word "fear" and I am sure that many of us watching the continu- ing unfolding of events feel that the repressive purge which is now being undertaken is one of consider- able concern which has obviously produced a reac- tion around the world of Chinese citizens seeking political asylum, and also news that there are queues outside the American Embassy in Peking, particu- larly their visa section. How soon do you think we can re-establish our consular section and what priority would you give it, in the sense that there must be many of the people in Hong Kong who are now seeking quite properly to escape the purge?
(Sir Geoffrey Howe) As I indicated in my original remarks, we are now giving active consideration to the timescale in which we should restore, or get towards, the strength of our embassy there.
Mr Lawrence
944. Can I just come back to an answer which you gave to Ted Rowlands just now when you said that you felt that nothing that we in Britian could have done or said would have compensated for the bewilderment, fear and confusion in the minds of the leadership which caused the massacre? (I think that was the essence of what you were saying.) Of course, from that follows a certain amount of optimism. We can say that that sort of situation is not likely to repeat itself and as soon as the Chinese authorities get a grip of themselves and start con- sidering the consequeres of what they are doing their policy is likely to change, and from that we can conclude it might be more reassuring for the people of Hong Kong. What has actually happened is that in the post ill-considered response of the massacre we have now got a well-considered
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