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the
ns cannol
the Long run be "paci
be "pacified" or stability in-
fegion assured by harsh and hostil e treatment alone.
Secondly, a lasting solution in Tibet is unlikely to be achieved until and unless China can come to terms in some way with the Dalai Lama. This point is even more obvious, and worth pressing, during the hiatus left in China's policy by the Panchen Lama's death.
12.
The Hong Kong angle in all this deserves much fuller and careful treatment than it can be given here. Put briefly, the need to do everything we can to ensure future Chinese respect for human rights within Hong Kong is a powerful additional motive for taking the course outlined above. But in presentational terms, we do not help confidence in Hong Kong by making China'a present record and prospects seem worse than they actually are. From this point of view too the line suggested above (with its emphasis on the well-meaning goals of Chinese leaders) would seem appropriate. A less isolated treatment of Tibet might also be less liable to invite the misleading and sensationalist parallel drawn by some commentators between Tibet and Hong Kong.
OF SOME CHINESE
LEADERS
13. There is considerable interest in human rights issues and debate over the best way of handling them within the closely-knit group of the European Twelve in Peking, As seen from here, it might be worth raising the subject in the Political Committee to
see if a common European line can be achieved on our general aims in China and the basic points to make. This could also pave the way for coordinating European representations to the Chinese on individual human rights cases, although inevitably some countries will maintain closer relations with certain dissidents and groups. Keeping in touch bilaterally with the Americans will also be important.
14,
I alll
CHis despaton to Her Majesty's Representatives at Washington and Moscow, the UK Permanent Representative to the United Nations Organisation, the UK Permanent Representative to the European Communities and the Governor of Hong Kong.
I am,
Six,
Yours faithfully
Alyson
24.03
Alyson J'A Balles Charge d'Affaires
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