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14 June 1989]
THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTER
RT HON SIR GEOFFREY HOWE, QC, MP, MR R McLaren and Mr A PAUL
[Mr Lawrence Contd response of repression, of arrest and with the con- scious terrifying of those who have been the leaders of the demonstrations; we have got the conscious and considered perversion of the media, whilst the Chinese authorities know full well that the rest of the world knows the truth from their media. Is this not, actually, in a sense, a much more frightening scenario because it does tend to indicate that the Chinese regime simply does not care what the world thinks and is contemptuous of our thoughts? In that scenario is there not rather more reasons for the people in Hong Kong to question whether we should continue to be trusting the Chinese authorities in their undertaking? What response do you make to that kind of interpretation of events?
(Sir Geoffrey Howe) I think I follow your reason- ing all the way. What has happened in the latest twist in what is happening-as I said in my original remarks the pursuit of a policy of steady, sustained and organised repression, adds to one's grave concern about the direction currently being taken by the Chinese Government. We discussed this at some length in the meeting of European Foreign Ministers in Luxembourg that I addressed on Monday. We all shared exactly the same view of it. It is making its impact, for example, on the position of the students in their own countries, so they feel it in that sense. We see it much much directly because of its impact upon confidence and thinking in Hong Kong. Then one has to ask one- self: "What is one going to do about it?" Clearly we want to do,and the whole world wants to do, everything we conceivably and sensibly can. The statements and policy conclusions that have been coming from the United States as well as other Western countries have been quite clearly to the same effect of condemnation; the same conclusion of breaking off of high level contacts, cancelling arms sales and all that range of matters. But if you want to maintain an opportunity of putting influence of the right kind into the system you have to take some note of their statement that they intend to maintain their economic performance and a policy of openness with the outside world. It is not just at the Hong Kong level, or Hong Kong/ Canton level, but that provides a means of daily communication. It is for that reason Lean find that countries throughout the Western world have declined to move on into the area of economic sanctions, because what one has to do is to seek every opportunity of trying to convey to the Chinese leadership that they cannot have it both ways; that if they intend to resume or sustain the policy of economic reform which they set such store by then they simply cannot expect to sustain that if they try to isolate themselves from the outside world. Even if that isolation is taken in the form of only political measures, they cannot seek to maintain the credits and contacts of joint man- agement and confidence at the same time as haras- singjournalists in the street, at the same time as interfering with communications and at the same time as maltreating their students and their student leaders. This is the message we have to get through and we shall go on doing it. That is why our representatives are there. At the moment it is not
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easy for us to do that through any conventional means because we have only the most limited per- ception of the structure and seats of power in the authorites in China. One day sanity will begin recovering ground. We look for every opportunity to make that happen.
Mr Canavan
945. Sir Geoffrey, can I press you on an earlier reply which you gave to the Chairman about the allegations regarding the treatment of Hong Kong British citizens by embassy staff in the People's Republic of China? Are you able to give an absolute guarantee that there has been equality of treatment in the respect of giving assistance and advice regarding exit from danger zones or getting out of the country altogether? Can you tell us that there is no question of hard-pressed embassy staff perhaps giving priority to holders of full British passports rather than the Hong Kong British passports? Can you tell us that there is no question of the latter being treated as second-class citizens? If full details of any such allegations are forwarded to you, will ensure that proper investigation and action is taken?
(Sir Geoffrey Howe) Surely, yes. Our policy has been to maintain absolute parity of treatment. As far as I have been able to investigate that has been the policy carried out. I would be very glad to look into any particular case. I think the embassy have reacted under a situation of very great pressure to people from Hong Kong and British subjects alike, and they have had, sometimes, to say: “Look, we simply cannot give you a safe pass from here to there." The embassy staff themselves have been under inhibitions and constraints, but the impact of those contraints has been-so far as policy is concerned-even-handed between British subjects and Hong Kong people. I will gladly look at any cases you would like to give me the details of.
Mr Wells
946. Has our Ambassador seen the Foreign Sec- retary of China?
(Sir Geoffrey Howe) There has been, until recently, very limited contact with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Indeed, some of the representa- tions have been made to the public security bureau, but the range of contact—of normal working con- tact-has been severely constrained during recent weeks.
Mr Welsh
947. Sir Geoffrey, with regard to the seven weeks period in the people's Republic of China, there has been a tremendous amount of people near the Hong Kong border trying to get in to Hong Kong. Have we any figures of what has gone over into Hong Kong-officially or unofficially?
(Sir Geoffrey Howe) I think there has been no significant change in the pattern of inward move- ment into Hong Kong during these events, as far as I know.
(Mr McLaren) That is correct, Secretary of State.
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